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GREY SPRITE, THE SILVER KNIGHT 

AND HIS ADVENTURES 
IN THE 

OLD, OLD FOREST 





Kneeling at her feet, placed the Jewel in his Queen’s 

HAND.— Page 96 . 












GREY SPRITE, 
THE SILVER KNIGHT 


HIS ADVENTURES 
IN THE 

OLD, OLD FOREST 


BY 

FRANCIS E. PARK 


ILLUSTRATED BY 

ELISABETH B. WARREN 



BOSTON 

LOTHROP, LEE & SHEPARD CO. 














Copyright, 1926, 

By Lothrop, Lee & Shepard Co. 
All rights reserved 


Grey Sprite, The Silver Knight 

* 

* v 

4 « 

* 4 

« * 


PRINTED IN U. S. A. 


BorwooD ipress 

BERWICK & SMITH CO. 

NORWOOD, MASS. 

SEP2376 

©Cl A 950152 

Vo I 





To 

The Memory of 

MY FATHER, PAL, COUNSELLOR, AND HERO 

On whose knee , as a little boy , I listened 
to more wonderful tales than I can ever 
hope to imagine , this little book is 
affectionately dedicated . 




CONTENTS 


CHAPTEB 

I. The Woodbine and the Old Pine 

II. Grey Sprite’s Quest for the An¬ 
cient Jewel. 

III. The Rescue of the Five Fairies . 

IV. The Destruction of the Wild 

Flowers. 

V. The Capture and Rescue of 
Woodbine. 

VI. The War of the Fairies and the 
Gnomes . . .. 


PAGE 

II 

25 

102 

124 

135 

183 


7 





ILLUSTRATIONS 

Kneeling at her feet, placed the Jewel in his 

Queen’s hand (Page 96) . Frontispiece 

FACING 

PAGK 

Out of the starry night came floating great, 

furry moths.22 

Gold Stripe seemed so glad to see them . . 70 

He entered at last into the treasure hall of 

Gnomes.88 

There stood 'five little Fairies of the Queen’s 

Court . . ... . . . . . .122 

Each Gnome was seized and bound to the 
‘ stem of a bush.132 

Great Owl chuckled until his sides shook . 178 

“The King is dead! Long live the King!” 218 


9 







\ 


GREY SPRITE, 
THE SILVER KNIGHT 

His Adventures in 
the Old, Old Forest 

CHAPTER I 

THE WOODBINE AND THE OLD PINE 

T HROUGH all the forest that 
bright June morning there swept 
a rustle of excitement. Where- 
ever one might look, there was a fluttering 
of leaves and nodding and tossing of 
plumes as neighbors discussed the news 
that the South Wind had just brought. 
Never before in the history of Wildwood 
had such a thing happened, but let me tell 


12 GREY SPRITE, THE SILVER KNIGHT 

you all about it, and you can judge for 
yourselves. 

Once in ten years it was the custom of 
the Fairy Queen to hold her court at Wild¬ 
wood, and first she would listen to all 
grievances or troubles that any of the trees 
or flowers or any of the shy, gentle wood- 
folk might have, and with a touch of her 
magic wand bring instant relief. Then 
after that, there would be a grand ball on 
the level piece of green moss under the old 
pine, till the morning star came up in the 
East to warn all the night people that it 
was time to go to bed. 

It was also her custom to do something 
nice for the special locality in which her 
court was held, and on this occasion the 
Lord High Chamberlain announced that 
Her Majesty was going to offer two prizes 
that would be decided in the autumn, and 
they were to be as follows: The two trees 
or bushes that could make themselves the 
most beautiful by that time were to be 


THE WOODBINE AND THE OLD PINE 13 

changed into fairies and be joined forever 
to her Court. 

Now you can easily imagine the excite¬ 
ment which rippled all over Wildwood as 
the news was spread the next morning by 
South Wind. Miss Maple flaunted her 
green leaves, and as she thought of the 
rich gold and crimson ribbons that Jack 
Frost had promised to bring her in the au¬ 
tumn she could already see herself danc¬ 
ing at the revels of the Fairy Court, and 
looked with pitying disdain on her neigh¬ 
bors, the Birch and Poplar girls. 

The funny thing about it was that each 
one thought that he or she, as the case 
might be, would certainly get the prize, 
and all began at once to get ready. 

Never before was there such prinking 
and preening of bark and leaves. The 
Birches hung themselves all over with yel¬ 
low tassels, and with the soft, warm rain¬ 
water scrubbed their trunks till they were 
as white as snow. Then each leaf, as it 


i4 GREY SPRITE, THE SILVER KNIGHT 

unfolded, was pressed and waxed, till it 
glistened in the sun like a mirror. 

The young, green Pine-tree got out her 
balms and sweet-smelling pigments and 
went carefully over her frowzy head, cull¬ 
ing out and throwing down upon the 
ground the dead, brown hairs, and comb¬ 
ing and brushing the rest till they shim¬ 
mered like green satin. Then as the Sum¬ 
mer Wind would come straying along, she 
would coax him to blow upon her, and 
then would shake out all her boughs and 
fill the air around with the rich perfume 
that she used. 

The Poplars went in for fancy effects, 
and hung their leaves so that the slightest 
breath would set them all a-quiver. One 
side they painted a beautiful shade of 
green, the other was like silver, and when 
the breeze swept through, they danced and 
glistened like a thousand sunbeams. 

Even the Old Oak felt the thrill of ex¬ 
pectancy. As he hurriedly pushed off the 


THE WOODBINE AND THE OLD PINE 15 

dry dead leaves of the year before, he 
called to the wonderful little pink and 
grey fingers that were opening all over 
him to hurry up and spread out, for they 
would need much fixing and polishing be¬ 
fore they would be ready for the fall in¬ 
spection. Then he sent for an extra 
supply of acorns, and carefully trimmed 
every little branch with them. 

Many of the smaller shrubs could 
hardly wait at all, and spent all their 
money for blossoms with which they 
decked themselves from head to toe. The 
Wild Rose made a picture that would cer¬ 
tainly have taken a prize, but, alas, she got 
ready too soon, and long before the time 
for the Fairies to come, her decorations 
began to fade and get worn, and one by 
one they dropped off, till finally before the 
summer was half gone not a blossom was 
left, and only a very little money to buy a 
few red berries to trim her bare branches. 

The Barberry was not quite so lavish 


16 GREY SPRITE, THE SILVER KNIGHT 

with her money, although she did nearly 
the same thing, for she bought a lot of yel¬ 
low lace and draped her beautiful green 
branches with it in gay wreaths, yet when 
she found she had been hasty and that her 
elegant dress would be all tattered when 
autumn came she hunted around and 
found at a shop some branches of scarlet 
berries that shone even more magnificently 
than her yellow lace, and she confidently 
announced to her neighbor, Miss Walnut- 
tree, that she could not see how any judge 
of beauty could pass her by. 

Now, in the midst of all this turmoil and 
bustle of excitement there were two to 
whom never a hope came of even getting 
into the contest. One was an old Pine- 
tree, the oldest in Wildwood, and nearly 
dead. All his life he had fathered the 
little, weak things about him. When the 
heavy snows of winter came, he would 
catch the burden of them in his strong 
arms, so that the puny weak saplings be- 


THE WOODBINE AND THE OLD PINE 17 

neath his spreading branches would not 
be overwhelmed. The fierce lightning, 
darting down to destroy, was taken in his 
strong grasp and, although it blackened 
and burned, he never relaxed his hold un¬ 
til all of it had been safely carried into the 
moist earth. In his fragrant branches he 
had housed the nests of many birds and 
lulled the little ones to sleep with his 
crooning songs of olden times. For 
years, never thinking of self, he had given 
to those about him, but now he was old 
and useless, no one remembered him, no 
one loved him. Surely the hope for a 
beauty prize was not for him. 

The other was a little trailing vine, 
slender, but not strong enough even to 
hold herself erect; there was no money in 
her purse to buy rich colors or beautiful 
blossoms with which to deck herself, yet 
she was always wishing she might be beau¬ 
tiful and gain one of the coveted prizes. 
The Maple-tree, looking down on her, 


18 GREY SPRITE, THE SILVER KNIGHT 

laughed in scorn. “What, you, you poor 
little crawling thing! Do you ever hope 
to be beautiful? What impudence!” and 
she rustled her leaves in mocking laughter 
till the little brown rabbits asleep in the 
thicket peeped out to see what was the 
matter. No answer could the poor little 
vine make; she could only sob, until it 
seemed as if her heart would break. 

Now it chanced that she was growing at 
the foot of the scraggly Pine, with its 
scarred and blackened trunk, and hearing 
her grieving, he asked in a kindly voice 
what the trouble was. “Alas!” said she, 
“I must always lie hidden on the ground, 
and no one can see me. I am sure that if 
I were only up in the air so that my leaves 
could expand, I would stand some chance 
for a prize. I am so tired of always being 
looked down upon, and trodden under 
foot.” The old Pine shook his head sym¬ 
pathetically and said, “Why not use me 


THE WOODBINE AND THE OLD PINE 19 

for a support? To be sure, I am old and 
homely and not of much use, but you are 
welcome to all the help I can give.” 

So day by day, the little vine crept 
higher and ever higher on the old scraggly 
trunk, clasping her fingers into the 
gnarled, rough bark; and as her delicate 
head rose up into the beautiful sunlight, 
she was filled with a great love and pity 
for the poor old tree, and one day a grand 
idea came to her. From that time on, she 
worked steadily for that one thing. Said 
she to herself, “Who am I to receive a 
prize? But here is this dear old tree, the 
only friend who has ever held out a help¬ 
ing hand to me. He has spent his life in 
service for others, and even now, when 
nearly dead, has taken pity on me and 
raised me up so that I may have a chance. 
No one will ever notice my slender root. 
I will put all my thoughts on decorating 
him. I will weave beautiful designs with 


20 GREY SPRITE, THE SILVER KNIGHT 

my long stems and glossy leaves all over 
his trunk, and who knows but he may win 
a prize and be happy ever after?” 

Slowly the long, hot summer wore 
away, and as it drew to a close, there would 
come every now and then a cool night, 
warning the contestants that autumn was 
at hand, and at last the eventful time ar¬ 
rived. 

Never in the memory of the oldest in¬ 
habitant had such a night been seen. The 
air was balmy and mild, spiced with 
all the rich perfumes the contestants had 
been using in their preparations. Not a 
cloud obscured the sky, and the stars 
glowed like great lamps. Long before 
the time for the Queen to arrive, crowds 
of wood-folk began to assemble, and, to 
judge from the different opinions ex¬ 
pressed, the members of the Committee 
were going to have a hard time to decide 
the question. The old grey squirrel, for 
instance, was sure that the Walnut-tree 


THE WOODBINE AND THE OLD PINE 21 

l 

with its rich dress of dull russet should 
have it, and could see no great beauty in 
any of the others, but all the time he was 
cracking a nut that the Walnut-tree had 
given him, so that his judgment could 
hardly be called unbiased. And so it 
went. 

But at last the arguments and whisper¬ 
ing came to a sudden stop as the shrill 
voice of a Katy-did, who was master of 
ceremonies, was heard: 

“Light your lamps, light your lamps!” 
and instantly the whole glade became 
bright as day, only with a much more mel¬ 
low light, when a million fireflies switched 
on their tiny lamps. And as the wonder¬ 
ful light flooded the whole woodland, an 
orchestra composed of all the crickets in 
the fields broke forth into a triumphal 
march, and down and out of the starry 
night came floating great, furry moths, 
and on their backs sat the Fairies. And 
then, when all had taken their places, 


22 GREY SPRITE, THE SILVER KNIGHT 

there came a big, white moth with pale- 
green wings banded with lovely pink, and 
on its back sat the most beautiful creature 
in all the world—the Fairy Queen. After 
she had been conducted to her throne, the 
Lord High Chamberlain took his stand 
on the moss in front of her, and with a 
clear voice, that was heard all through 
Wildwood, rehearsed first the conditions 
governing the prizes, and then appointed 
the Committee who should inspect the 
contestants and decide the question. 

There had been many changes in the ap¬ 
pearance of all the trees during the months 
of their preparation. Most of them had 
added bright colors, but those who had 
spent so much on blossoms and gay trim¬ 
mings early in the summer looked very 
shabby now. There were three that the 
Committee finally settled down to decide 
between: the Pine, glossy in its fragrant, 
green needles; the Oak, rich with dull 
crimson and green; and the Maple, flam- 



OUT OF THE STARRY NIGHT CAME FLOATING GREAT, FURRY 

MOTHS. — Paye 21. 

















THE WOODBINE AND THE OLD PINE 23 

ing from top to toe in gold and scarlet. 
For a long time they argued, but before 
the question was decided, there came a cry 
from a little distance away. It was from 
one of the Courtiers who had wandered 
apart from the others. 

“See, here is one worth looking at!” he 
cried, and while they crowded round, a 
loud cry of admiration ran from mouth to 
mouth, as they gazed upon the old tree 
draped with the greatest skill by its loving 
little friend, whose leaves and thread-like 
stem had blushed so deeply at the admira¬ 
tion they had excited that they had 
changed in an instant to a most beautiful 
crimson. 

The whole Court came to gaze. 
“Which one deserves the prize?” they 
cried. “Give it to the little vine,” said the 
old tree, “she has done it all.” “Not so,” 
she replied, “I could do nothing by my¬ 
self. This dear old friend has raised me 
up from the ground and helped me just as 


24 GREY SPRITE, THE SILVER KNIGHT 

he has been helping every one else all 
these years. He, not I, deserves it.” 

The Committee stood puzzled for a mo¬ 
ment, when the Queen spoke up, 

“There are two prizes,” said she, “let 
them each receive one,” and waving her 
magic wand, she touched each of them 
lightly, and lo, in place of the little vine 
stood a lovely sprite in a green gown, and 
where the old tree had stood, there was 
now a merry, little Courtier in a grey suit, 
embroidered with a crimson vine, never 
any more to grow old. All the plants of 
the wood save the Maple and the Oak and 
the young Pine cheered and danced, till 
there shone in the East the Morning Star. 
And then, presto! they were gone. 


CHAPTER II 


GREY SPRITE’S QUEST FOR THE 
ANCIENT JEWEL 


Part I 


G LOOM and despair had settled 
over Fairy-Land. Gone was 
the tinkle of bells on flying feet, 
and hushed the silvery laughter and the 
fluting of song. Everywhere, in small 
groups, the Fairies could be seen discuss¬ 
ing the situation in hushed and awe¬ 
stricken tones, for their Queen was ac¬ 
tually wearing herself out with grief and 
hopeless longing for the one thing in the 
world she could not get—the Ancient 
Jewel, which distant tradition had re¬ 
vealed—the jewel that shone with the light 
of the stars and was shot through and 




26 GREY SPRITE, THE SILVER KNIGHT 

through with the shimmering gleams of 
the rainbow, and most wonderful of all, 
before whose mystic light all truth stood 
naked and revealed. 

Time and time again, bold Fairies, fired 
with resolution and enthusiasm, had 
kissed the hand of their Queen, and, vow¬ 
ing that they would return with the object 
of her desire, had departed on their quest, 
never to be heard from again; and none 
could say where it was to be found. Only 
the old tradition, old as the race, pro¬ 
claimed its existence, and the Queen had 
set her heart upon it, and would not be 
comforted. 

“Oh, Grey Sprite, is there anything we 
can do?” cried little Woodbine, the tears 
streaming down her pretty cheeks. Ever 
since the night when she, the clinging 
little vine, and he, the faithful, generous 
Old Pine, had won the beauty prize, and 
had been transformed forever into Fairies 
of the Queen’s own court, she had been 


QUEST FOR THE ANCIENT JEWEL 27 

the Queen’s favorite attendant, and never 
was a mistress served with more devotion. 
Now as she watched the Queen’s despair 
and grief, it seemed as though her little 
heart must break, and she had stolen away 
for a few minutes to pour out her troubles 
to her old friend. 

Grey Sprite listened in silence, but into 
his mind sprang a sudden decision and a 
great resolve. Might it not be that he, of 
different origin from that of the other 
Fairies, and of a more intimate kinship 
with Nature, could succeed where they 
had failed, and find the wondrous Jewel? 

Instantly his resolution was taken. 
“Woodbine,” said he, “I am going to try 
to find it, and something tells me I shall 
succeed. Go back and comfort the 
Queen. Tell her to look forward con¬ 
fidently to my coming.” 

A moment more and he was gone, and 
Woodbine hastened away to her mistress, 
bearing with her a hope which already 


28 GREY SPRITE, THE SILVER KNIGHT 

was melting the cold chill of fear that 
overwhelmed her heart at Grey Sprite’s 
word, for she could not forget all those 
who had tried before—and had never 
come back. 

High over the trees that night floated a 
great brown moth, and on the soft fur be¬ 
tween the broad wings sat Grey Sprite 
with brooding eyes. Although he had 
acted upon a sudden impulse, he was re¬ 
solved that never would he give up the 
search until the Ancient Jewel was found. 
But where was he to look? Clearly he 
must have advice, and of all the wood-folk 
with whom he was acquainted, Firefly 
would be most likely to know something 
of value, for he was continually on the go, 
flashing his search-light this way and that. 
Most certainly he would talk with him 
first. 

Softly Grey Sprite and Brown Moth 
dropped to earth and, as a sudden flash of 
pale-green light illumined the darkness, 



QUEST FOR THE ANCIENT JEWEL 29 

Grey Sprite called out, “Oh, Firefly! 
Come and talk with me a minute, will 
you ?” Quickly a light shone full in their 
faces as Firefly flitted up to satisfy his 
curiosity. 

“Well! Who are you?” asked Firefly. 

“What! Do you not recognize your 
friend, the Old Pine, whom the Fairy 
Queen changed into one of her Little 
People?” asked Grey Sprite. 

Many had been the time in the old days 
when Firefly had sheltered himself from 
cold and storm in Old Pine’s rough bark, 
and he was very glad to meet him again. 

“Tell me,” said Grey Sprite, “do you 
know anything about the Ancient Jewel, 
and where it can be found?” 

“No,” replied Firefly, “I never heard of 
it; but perhaps Whip-poor-will may have, 
for he has suffered a great grief, and I 
think he is very wise.” 

“Where can I find him?” said Grey 
Sprite. 


30 GREY SPRITE, THE SILVER KNIGHT 

“I will come with you and help,” said 
Firefly, “for it is difficult to locate him by 
his voice alone, which is very deceptive. 
But he has big, black eyes, and when I 
shine my light upon them, they glow like 
little balls of fire.” 

So he settled himself beside Grey Sprite, 
and with swift, steady flight, Brown Moth 
floated away towards the deep woods. 
Soon in the distance was heard a plaintive 
cry which seemed to come from every di¬ 
rection at once. “Whip-poor-will, Whip- 
poor-will.” 

“Now,” said Firefly, “look for his eyes,” 
and as they sped along, he flashed his light 
this way and that, when suddenly right 
before them shone two, little, glowing 
balls, and Firefly called out, “We are 
friends, Whip-poor-will, and have come to 
ask your advice.” 

“Speak quickly, then,” said the bird, 
“for I have a mission that I cannot neg¬ 
lect,” and opening his wide mouth, he 


QUEST FOR THE ANCIENT JEWEL 31 

made all the echoes of the night ring with 
his weird plaint. In a few hasty words, 
Grey Sprite explained his visit, and asked 
him if he could help. 

“Jewel!” said Whip-poor-will. “I know 
a place that is full of them, and it is proba¬ 
bly there. At the third turn of the Wind¬ 
ing River lies a deep meadow. Often 
when the moon was bright have I seen the 
Jewels shining there. Now I beg that you 
will leave me to my grief,” and again his 
sad cry filled all the night. 

Grey Sprite’s heart beat with rapture as 
he thought how speedily his adventure 
would be ended, and saying good-by to 
Firefly, he gave the direction to Brown 
Moth and lost himself in the delight of 
picturing the joy of the Fairy Queen when, 
bending low, he would place in her hands 
the wondrous Jewel. And how Wood¬ 
bine’s eyes would shine! 

Soon they saw in the distance a twisting 
thread of silver, the Winding River, and 


32 GREY SPRITE, THE SILVER KNIGHT 

at the third turn, Brown Moth floated 
down to the deep meadow. Sure enough! 
Sparkling like diamonds there were thou¬ 
sands of flashing dots, and Grey Sprite 
began to wonder how he could ever select 
from among so many the special Jewel that 
he was seeking. Alighting on a bush that 
shone more than the others, he reached out 
to touch one of the gleaming gems, when 
lo! it vanished, leaving only a wet spot on 
his hand. The Jewels of the Whip-poor- 
will were but dewdrops glistening in the 
moonlight. 


Part II 

For a few moments Grey Sprite stood 
spellbound, as a full realization of his dis¬ 
appointment surged over him. All his 
wonderful dream of success was shattered 
and gone. But his courage was too high 
to be checked by failure, and he began to 
realize that the road leading to his goal 


QUEST FOR THE ANCIENT JEWEL 33 

was going to be neither easy nor straight. 
To whom should he turn now? It was 
useless to expect any further help from 
Firefly or Whip-poor-will. To whom 
should he turn? Who? Who? 

Just at that moment, as though in answer 
to his unspoken thought, there rang over 
the hills and through the woods a loud, 
“Who-who”; and he cried out, “Great 
Owl! Perhaps he knows! Quick, Brown 
Moth, up to the top of that tall dead tree.” 

Scarcely had they reached it, when out 
of the moonlight, noiselessly as a snow¬ 
flake, glided a large, dark bird with glow¬ 
ing eyes, and perched beside them. 
Brown Moth had alighted in a shadowed 
spot, and his color was so nearly that of the 
limb that Great Owl, who was eagerly 
scanning the ground below watching for 
his supper, did not see him. 

“How goes the hunting, Great Owl?” 
cried Grey Sprite, and the big bird was so 
startled that he nearly lost his balance. 


34 GREY SPRITE, THE SILVER KNIGHT 

“Who are you that call me?” said he. 

“Ha, ha,” laughed Grey Sprite. “We 
never needed an introduction in the old 
times when you would spend the day sleep¬ 
ing safely amongst my thick branches be¬ 
fore I went to live with the Fairies.” 

Great Owl opened his big eyes wider 
than ever. 

“Old Pine,” he cried, “is it really you? 
And what in the world are you doing up 
here in the top of this tree?” 

“I came up to see you,” said Grey Sprite, 
and he told him the whole story from be¬ 
ginning to end. Great Owl listened with 
such attention that he never even saw a 
plump little rabbit hopping across the 
patch of moonlight ground at the foot of 
the tree. 

“Now,” said Grey Sprite when he had 
finished, “I need help badly. What can 
you do for me?” 

“Jewel!” murmured Great Owl to him- 


QUEST FOR THE ANCIENT JEWEL 35 

self. “It seems to me that I have heard 
something about it somewhere. When 
was it?” and ruffling up all his feathers 
until he looked twice as big as before, he 
closed his eyes, and for a short time sat 
lost in thought. Then all the feathers 
smoothed themselves again, and he opened 
his eyes with a snap. “I have it!” he cried. 
“I remember a long time ago catching a 
big, fat field mouse, and just as I was about 
to eat him, he squeaked out that if I would 
spare him, he would tell me a secret that 
would make me rich for life. As I wasn’t 
very hungry, I consented, and he told me 
of a place—I can’t just remember where, 
but I am sure it was on Black Mountain— 
where there was a wonderful jewel. I re¬ 
member I flew into a rage, for of what use 
was a jewel to me? But I had given my 
word, so I let him go. I never even took 
the trouble to hunt for it, and now I have 
forgotten just where he told me to go. 


36 GREY SPRITE, THE SILVER KNIGHT 

However, if you can find Field Mouse and 
can get him to tell you, I think your ques¬ 
tion is answered.” 

“Oh, how fortunate I was to meet you!” 
cried Grey Sprite. “I shall never forget; 
and you know I am in a position to do more 
for my friends than formerly. Just think 
up some nice wish for yourself, and when 
I get back with the Jewel, I will see that it 
comes true. Now, Brown Moth, we must 
find Field Mouse without delay,” and wav¬ 
ing farewell to Great Owl, they floated 
down towards Earth again, while far and 
wide the echoes repeated Great Owl’s 
ceaseless question, “Who—who?” 

Far away in a meadow, Brown Moth 
settled beside a pile of grey stones, and 
listening intently, the pair watched and 
waited for Field Mouse. Once they saw 
a large shadowy form with a big tail slink¬ 
ing across the field, and they knew that 
some one else was looking for him also. 
Pretty soon they heard a squeak, and in- 


QUEST FOR THE ANCIENT JEWEL 37 

stantly Grey Sprite called out, “Oh, Field 
Mouse, I am a Fairy from the Queen’s 
Court and wish to talk with you, but be 
very careful how you show yourself, for 
Red Fox is sneaking close by.” Presently 
they saw a little nose sniffing at them 
from the shelter of the rock pile. 

“Well, what do you want of me?” said 
Field Mouse, and there was a shade of sus¬ 
picion in his tone. 

“I have been told that you know some¬ 
thing about the Ancient Jewel, and I am 
searching for it,” said Grey Sprite. 

“All right,” said Field Mouse in an in¬ 
solent tone, “go right on hunting for it; 
no one is stopping you.” 

“That is not a very courteous answer,” 
said Grey Sprite. “I wonder how Great 
Owl will feel when I tell him what you say. 
I think he will sup on scrambled mouse 
before very long. It was he who sent me 
to you.” 

At the mention of Great Owl, a very 


38 GREY SPRITE, THE SILVER KNIGHT 

rapid change came over Field Mouse, and 
in a voice trembling with fear, he cried, 
“Oh, I was only having my little joke, I did 
not mean any harm. Please tell me how 
I can serve you.” 

Grey Sprite, speaking very softly so as 
not to attract Red Fox’s attention, as he was 
still prowling near by, told him about his 
quest and the urgent need of haste. A 
promise was also made to Field Mouse 
that he should be richly rewarded, if he 
helped Grey Sprite attain his desire. 

The mention of Great Owl’s name 
seemed to encourage Field Mouse’s will¬ 
ingness to help, even more than the idea 
of the reward, for he had never forgotten 
that night when a black shadow had passed 
over him and the next thing he knew he 
was going swiftly through the air up into 
the top of a tall tree. Oh, that terrible 
beak and those frightful claws! How he 
had ever kept his senses long enough to 
bargain for his life he never knew, and 


QUEST FOR THE ANCIENT JEWEL 39 

even to this day the bare mention of his 
captor’s name, or even a sudden shadow 
passing over, would set him trembling like 
a leaf. So he eagerly described the spot 
at the foot of the great precipice on Black 
Mountain where a jewel lay, and it was so 
beautiful that he felt sure it was the one 
they wanted. He said that on the outside 
it was just like a piece of rough, round 
stone, but when you turned it over, the 
inside was one great jewel. He had seen 
it with his own eyes, but he did not dare 
to go there again. So, very carefully he 
gave the directions for finding it, and after 
getting Grey Sprite’s promise to speak a 
good word for him to Great Owl, and, oh, 
yes! not to forget the reward, he bade them 
good-by and good luck. 

Once more up into the night air floated 
the big moth, heading straight for the 
precipice that showed in the moonlight 
like a great white scar on the side of Black 
Mountain. 


40 GREY SPRITE, THE SILVER KNIGHT 

At the foot of it they alighted, and Grey 
Sprite, looking this way and that, soon 
found the starting point of their search: an 
old rotten stump, where Field Mouse had 
formerly lived. “Now,” said he, “we fol¬ 
low the old rabbit-path towards the east 
until we come to the big ant-hill.” Thence 
they turned sharply to the left to pause 
again at the foot of “the scraggly, old 
cedar-tree.” They were very near it now. 
Only one more step in the chain of direc¬ 
tions, and they would behold the wondrous 
Jewel for which so many had searched, and 
so far in vain. Suppose it had been found 
and carried away by some one who did not 
know its value! At the thought, Grey 
Sprite broke into a run. Yes, there was 
the “funny square stone with the white 
blotches all over it,” and Joy! Joy! a 
flash of dazzling, red light shone into his 
eyes for a second, as throwing himself 
upon his knees he seized the sparkling 
treasure, only to hurl it upon the ground 


QUEST FOR THE ANCIENT JEIVEL 41 

again. For this was not the Ancient 
Jewel! Beautiful and bright it was, and 
to simple Field Mouse had seemed a 
wondrous and priceless thing, but Grey 
Sprite knew that these flashing stones 
were only crystals of quartz, and that he 
was no nearer to his journey’s end than 
when he stood gazing at the dewdrops of 
Whip-poor-will. 

Part Ill 

“Master, the day is coming.” Grey 
Sprite turned at the words, and Brown 
Moth pointed to the faint touch of rose in 
the eastern sky. He had worked all 
night, and was hungry and sleepy. Grey 
Sprite considered a minute. There was 
no telling how far he might have to travel. 
The moth could fly only by night, and was 
not very fast at that. 

“Brown Moth,” said he, “I can see that 
from now on I must work mostly by day, 


42 GREY SPRITE, THE SILVER KNIGHT 

and your delicate eyes cannot stand the 
bright sunlight. I think you had better 
get a good meal and some sleep, and to¬ 
night fly back to the Court again. Tell 
Woodbine that ‘all is well,’ and that when 
she sees me next, I shall have the Jewel. 
When I come back, I shall not forget your 
friendly aid. As soon as morning comes, 
I am going to consult the ants.” 

As he watched the great moth vanish 
into the night, a feeling of loneliness stole 
over him, and his thoughts strayed back 
to Woodbine. He wondered when he 
should ever see her again. 

Slowly the rosy light deepened and 
brightened in the east. Dim, shadowy 
forms began to stand out from the gloom 
that was everywhere. Presently a chirp 
was heard from a neighboring tree, and 
answered quickly from another near by, 
the sleepy opening of the bird chorus that 
was soon in full voice throughout the for¬ 
est. The rose in the east changed to 


QUEST FOR THE ANCIENT JEWEL 43 

flaming crimson and then to gold, as over 
the rim of the world peeped the great sun. 
The day had come. 

As soon as he saw the ants stirring, Grey 
Sprite stationed himself at one of the en¬ 
trances of the hill and was immediately 
surrounded by a company of the red sol¬ 
diers who guarded the portal. “I am 
from the Fairy Queen’s Court,” he cried, 
“and I wish to speak with your Queen.” 

At his words, one of the soldiers bustled 
away and soon returned with a large, 
black ant. Saluting smartly, he stepped 
back into the ranks, and the newcomer 
said: “I am the Governor of this City. 
May I inquire who you are, and what you 
want?” 

“My name is Grey Sprite, and I am a 
member of the Fairy Queen’s Court,” an¬ 
swered our hero. “I am seeking the An¬ 
cient Jewel, and have come to ask your 
Queen if she knows where it may be 
found.” 


44 GREY SPRITE, THE SILVER KNIGHT 

“Come with me,” said the Governor, 
“and I will take you to her. I have never 
heard of it, but if there is such a thing, she 
will know something about it.” 

Entering by the narrow passage-way 
where he had stationed himself, they soon 
passed into a wider road, and Grey Sprite 
was amazed at the great crowds of ants he 
saw streaming out from galleries that tun¬ 
neled the hill in every direction. Al¬ 
though all was bustle and hurry, yet there 
was no confusion. Each one seemed to 
know just what he was to do, and was go¬ 
ing ahead to accomplish it, paying no at¬ 
tention to anything else. Most of the ants 
that he passed were of the same color as 
the red soldiers at the entrance, but he saw 
also many black ants that looked like his 
conductor, and they were busily engaged 
in tending the hatching eggs, and caring 
for the young ones. 

Presently Grey Sprite and the Governor 
came to a very large hall, at the center of 


QUEST FOR THE ANCIENT JEWEL 45 

the hill. This was crowded with ants of 
all degrees and stations, coming and go¬ 
ing in a steady stream, and in the center, 
surrounded by her councilors, reposed 
the Queen Ant, busy with her duties. At 
sight of the Governor with a stranger, a 
sudden hush fell over all, and the guards 
drew closer about their mistress as though 
to protect her. 

“An Ambassador from the Court of the 
Fairy Queen wishes to consult you about 
the Ancient Jewel, Your Majesty,” said 
the Governor. 

“He is welcome,” replied the Queen. 
“Present him.” 

Taking the Fairy by the hand, the Gov¬ 
ernor led him forward, and bending low, 
Grey Sprite thanked her for her gracious 
words, and then told her of the terrible 
calamity that threatened the world. All 
joy and happiness were endangered, for 
the Great Queen was pining away with 
desire for the Ancient Jewel, and he had 


46 GREY SPRITE, THE SILVER KNIGHT 

sworn to find it for her or perish in the 
attempt. Did she by any chance know 
where it might be found? 

“The Ancient Jewel?” exclaimed the 
Queen. “It is a long time since I have 
even heard it mentioned. I am sorry, but 
I do not know myself where to look for it. 
I have always understood that it was im¬ 
possible for any one to find it or even look 
upon it. I remember once hearing one of 
the workers tell of a conversation he had 
had with Red Lizard who lives under the 
rotten log in the deep wood. I think the 
subject was mentioned, and I would advise 
you to seek him and find out what he really 
knows about it. It may be of value.” 
With that she dismissed him, and told the 
Governor to reconduct him to the outside 
world. 

Hope rose strong within his heart 
again, for Grey Sprite felt sure that this 
time he was upon a real trail. But how 
to reach Red Lizard? Just then he heard 


QUEST FOR THE ANCIENT JEWEL 47 

a loud, buzzing sound, and looking up 
saw a little brown bird poised over a blos¬ 
som with wings moving so swiftly the eye 
could not follow them. 

“Humming-Bird, Humming-Bird,” he 
cried, “come here. I have as great need 
of you as formerly you had of me when 
you saddled your little nest on my 
branches, and I kept the rain and sun from 
your babies. I am Old Pine, who was 
changed by the Fairy Queen.” 

“If you have need of me and I can help 
you, Old Friend,” said Humming-Bird, 
“you can surely count on me, for I do not 
forget what I owe.” 

So Grey Sprite told him about finding 
Red Lizard; and Humming-Bird said, 
“Climb right up on my back and clasp 
your arms tightly about my neck, for my 
feathers are very smooth, and we will go 
swiftly.” 

It seemed scarcely more than a minute 
to Grey Sprite before they were circling 


48 GREY SPRITE, THE SILVER KNIGHT 

about a huge old log that lay slowly drop¬ 
ping to pieces there in the deep forest, and 
after they had alighted, Grey Sprite 
walked around it, looking for some chance 
to get under. At length he saw a hole 
that seemed to go in the direction he 
wished, but it looked very dark and 
gloomy. No telling what hideous thing 
might be lurking there in the dark. 

“Pretty risky, I should say,” remarked 
Humming-Bird. “I like to stay where I 
can use my wings.” 

“Well, there is only one thing to do,” 
said Grey Sprite. “Red Lizard is under 
there somewhere, and I have got to talk 
with him. But if I never come out again, 
please find some way to let my Queen 
know that I tried to the last.” 

Entering the hole, he was soon lost to 
sight. It was as dark as pitch, and every¬ 
thing he touched was wet and slimy. He 
could hear strange noises, and once he 
was sure that something moved quickly, 


QUEST FOR THE ANCIENT JEWEL 49 

and he held his breath in fear that it 
would seize and devour him there in the 
dark. Nothing happened, however, and 
he pushed carefully on towards the center 
of the log. Finally he ventured to call, 
“Red Lizard! Red Lizard!” 

No answer for a moment, and then a 
whisper: “Who calls Red Lizard?” 

“A friend of the Queen of the Ants,” 
Grey Sprite answered. (He thought it 
best not to tell that he was a Fairy, for he 
could not know what enemies might be 
listening there in the dark.) “I am seek¬ 
ing information about the Ancient Jewel, 
and she told me that you were wiser than 
the other creatures in the woods and might 
be able to tell me where to find it.” 

Red Lizard was very much pleased at 
this mention of his knowledge. “Well, I 
have been about some,” he said, “and 
picked up quite a bit of wisdom. Let me 
see, I was visiting my cousin, Spotted Eft, 
in the big swamp, and I was telling him 


50 GREY SPRITE, THE SILVER KNIGHT 

how handsome his new, blue suit was, and 
how bright his yellow spots, when a 
hoarse voice rasped out, ‘Bright? There’s 
only one bright thing in the world,’ and 
turning round we saw Old Turtle. (You 
know he has lived so long that he knows 
almost everything.) ‘And what is that?’ 
we cried. ‘The Ancient Jewel,’ said he, 
but before he could say any more, a flock 
of ducks went swimming by overhead, 
and he tore off after them in hot pursuit. 
He never came back to tell us any more, 
so that is all I know about it; but I should 
think by the way he spoke that he may 
know all about it. By the way, would you 
mind telling me how you got in here? 
Brown Adder lives in that hole you came 
through, and he would eat you up at 
sight.” 

At this fearful piece of news, poor Grey 
Sprite grew pale with fright. There are 
only a few things in the world that can 


QUEST FOR THE ANCIENT JEWEL 51 

hurt a Fairy, and alas! Brown Adder was 
one of them. 

“He must have been out,” said Red 
Lizard, “but I very much fear you will 
run into him on your way back. How¬ 
ever, perhaps he will still be away and you 
will get along ’all right. Good luck to 
you, and I hope you find the Jewel.” 

Back through the dark, slimy hole crept 
Grey Sprite, pausing every few steps to 
listen. At last he could see the light of 
the entrance, and by it he made out an¬ 
other path branching off from the one 
he was on. A sudden impulse led him 
to explore it, and he soon found that it 
came out quite near to the first one. But, 
O horrors! there was Brown Adder all 
coiled up, and he seemed to be watching 
something. Grey Sprite could see his 
red-and-black tongue playing back and 
forth from his mouth. Thinking that 
while his attention was distracted he might 


52 GREY SPRITE, THE SILVER KNIGHT 

make his escape, he was on the point of 
stealing back to the other entrance, when 
the snake moved a little, and the Fairy saw 
poor little Humming-Bird on the ground 
staring up at the great ogre, who, with his 
glittering eyes fastened upon him, seemed 
to have fascinated him. At sight of his 
friend’s peril, all fear left Grey Sprite. 
Like a flash, his plan of action was 
formed. 

“Old Coward! Old Dirty Brown Ad¬ 
der! I am Grey Sprite of the Fairies. 
Come in here and fight me. I am going 
to kill you and hang your speckled skin on 
the bushes for every one to make fun of,” 
and reaching out, he gave the snake a hard 
kick, and then turning, ran back towards 
the other entrance as fast as his legs could 
carry him. Brown Adder flew into a 
terrible rage, whisked about to protect 
himself, and then glided swiftly into the 
hole to punish the insolent Fairy, but as 
he went in at one entrance, Grey Sprite 


QUEST FOR THE ANCIENT JEWEL 53 

came tearing out of the other, and flinging 
himself on Humming-Bird’s back, the two 
were out of danger in a jiffy. 

To this day, I don’t suppose Brown Ad¬ 
der knows what it was that cheated him 
out of a nice little Humming-Bird for his 
breakfast. 

Later in the afternoon he called to Red 
Lizard and asked him what he thought 
about it, but the latter, remembering how 
kind and polite his visitor had been, and 
how deeply impressed he was with his 
knowledge, only replied, “I wonder!” 


Part IV 

A week had passed in ceaseless search 
for the swamp where Old Turtle lived. 
In the excitement about Brown Adder, 
Grey Sprite had never thought to ask the 
way to it, and it was out of the question to 
go back to inquire, except as a last resort. 
Swamp after swamp they visited, asking 


54 GREY SPRITE, THE SILVER KNIGHT 

anxiously of all they met for news of Old 
Turtle. 

Once, as they flew over a little pond 
dotted thickly with reedy islands, they saw 
a flock of Wood-Ducks at play, and 
Humming-Bird said, “I am going to ask 
them.” 

“Beautiful birds,” he called, as he cir¬ 
cled over them, “can you by any chance 
tell me where the swamp lies in which Old 
Turtle lives?” At the words, the ducks 
stopped their play, and the leader an¬ 
swered, “Yes, if it will bring him any 
trouble; otherwise we will not tell.” 

“It will bring a great happiness to us,” 
cried Grey Sprite, “for he knows where 
something we are searching for is hidden. 
Please tell us how to reach him.” 

The ducks gathered in a circle and con¬ 
sulted a moment, and then the leader said, 
“We will tell you, but I must warn you to 
look out for him, for he is a terrible vil¬ 
lain, and will eat you up if he gets a 


QUEST FOR THE ANCIENT JEWEL 55 

chance. Only a few days ago we were 
resting in the swamp where he lives, doing 
no harm to any one, when suddenly one of 
our dear playmates gave a scream and in¬ 
stantly disappeared beneath the water. 
We all dove down to see what was the 
matter, and there was that wicked old tur¬ 
tle swimming for the bottom, with our 
friend in his terrible mouth. We were so 
frightened, we never stopped flying until 
we reached this pond. He eats every¬ 
thing he can catch, and I don’t think you 
can get him to tell you anything. How¬ 
ever, you can try if you wish,” and Wood- 
Duck gave them careful directions how 
to reach the swamp where Old Turtle 
lived. 

“Hurrah,” cried Grey Sprite, “we are 
getting on at last.” 

Hours later, they alighted on a bush 
growing out of the great swamp for which 
they had sought so long. The air was vo¬ 
cal with the sweet calls of the nesting 


56 GREY SPRITE, THE SILVER KNIGHT 

blackbirds, and fragrant with the smell of 
the button-bushes that were everywhere in 
full blossom. “What a pleasant place,” 
cried Humming-Bird. “You wait here 
on this bough while I get a bite to eat,” and 
darting away he was soon sipping the nec¬ 
tar from the sweet blossoms. 

As Grey Sprite sat looking about with 
interest at the stirring life of the swamp, 
he saw below him in the water a school 
of little fish swimming slowly along, and 
calling to them, he asked if they knew 
where Old Turtle lived, and if they could 
carry a message to him. At his call the 
fish swam towards him, but the moment 
they realized what he wanted, they dashed 
away as if in the greatest fright. 

“That’s funny,” he said. 

“What’s funny?” asked a voice above 
him, and looking up, he saw a blackbird 
sitting there, looking curiously at him. 

“Why I just asked those fish if they 
would take a message to Old Turtle for 


QUEST FOR THE ANCIENT JEWEL 57 

me, and they swam away as though fright¬ 
ened out of their senses.” 

“You must be a stranger around here,” 
returned Blackbird, “or you would have 
known better than try to get any one to 
take a message to him. We call him 
Death in this swamp, and no one goes any 
nearer to him than he can help. What 
did you want to see him about?” 

As he seemed to be a friendly bird, Grey 
Sprite told him about his search, and when 
Blackbird had learned of its serious na¬ 
ture, he became deeply concerned. “I 
don’t know how you will ever get any¬ 
thing out of him,” he said anxiously. “He 
never did a good turn in his life, and there 
are only two things in all the world he 
cares for: eating, and sleeping in the sun.” 

“Thank you for those words,” cried 
Grey Sprite. “You have given me a good 
plan, and I think I can make it work. 
You know bullies are always cowards at 
heart.” 


58 GREY SPRITE, THE SILVER KNIGHT 

“Well, you have the best wishes of 
every one in the swamp,” returned Black¬ 
bird, and off he flew to spread the news 
that Old Turtle had visitors, and it looked 
as though there was going to be some fun. 

When Humming-Bird returned a little 
later, Grey Sprite had his plans well 
thought out. “Fly over to the beach,” he 
said, pointing to a graveled bit of shore 
that lay close by, and arriving there, he 
filled his pockets with the roughest stones 
he could find. “Now let us find our 
friend,” he said grimly. 

The first blackbird they met directed 
them to a large, flat stone lying just out of 
the water near the center of the swamp. 
“There he is sunning himself,” he told 
them. “That has been his rock for years 
and years, and woe betide anything that he 
finds on it. If you are really going to talk 
with him, keep well out of reach, for he 
can shoot out that old neck of his a good 
foot.” 


QUEST FOR THE ANCIENT JEWEL 59 

Dozing peacefully in the warm sun¬ 
shine, Old Turtle was dreaming about his 
other favorite pastime, and had just got to 
the point where he had caught a fat young 
muskrat, but before he had time to swal¬ 
low him, he was rudely awakened by a 
voice near by, saying, “Greetings, Old 
Turtle,” and opening his eyes in astonish¬ 
ment, he saw, to his intense surprise, beau¬ 
tiful Humming-Bird perched on his rock, 
just out of reach, and strangest of all, up¬ 
on his back a little grey Fairy, with a deli¬ 
cate red vine embroidered all over his 
jacket. 

Before he could collect his senses, the 
Fairy continued. “Excuse me, please, for 
waking you, but I am on a mission that 
cannot wait. I have been told that you 
know where the Ancient Jewel is to be 
found, and I will reward you handsomely 
if you will tell me where to find it.” 

Now the cunning Old Turtle had not 
the least intention in the world of telling 


60 GREY SPRITE, THE SILVER KNIGHT 

anything he knew, but he thought by de¬ 
laying a bit, he could get near enough to 
make a sudden snap, and gobble them up; 
to be sure they would not taste as good as 
the young muskrat he had been dreaming 
about, but they would make a change in 
his diet, and it was seldom that he had a 
chance to get such a juicy little morsel. 
So he drawled, “ ‘Ancient Jewel,’ oho! you 
want to find that, do you?” and laughed 
till his sides shook. At the same time, he 
edged just a tiny bit nearer. 

“Hang on tight,” whispered Humming¬ 
bird. 

“How much of a reward will you give 
me?” asked Old Turtle, and he tried to 
look pleasant. 

“What would you like?” countered 
Grey Sprite, as he tightened his hold 
around Humming-Bird’s neck. 

“Well,” said the old murderer, “I 
should want a half dozen fat young ducks 
for my breakfast every morning, and-” 



QUEST FOR THE ANCIENT JEWEL 61 

“Hold tight,” cried Humming-Bird as 
he shot into the air, and the next second, 
Old Turtle’s wicked head just grazed him, 
as he stretched to his full lunge. 

“Steady, Humming-Bird; leave the talk¬ 
ing to me,” said Grey Sprite, “light again 
just out of reach. What else were you go¬ 
ing to say you wanted?” asked he, as 
quietly as though nothing had happened. 

Old Turtle was too much astonished to 
answer; in fact, he couldn’t think of any¬ 
thing else on the spur of the moment but 
gathered himself together and made an¬ 
other savage lunge. Again Humming- 
Bird shot up into the air. 

“Alight on the lower part of his back,” 
commanded Grey Sprite. “He can’t 
reach us there. 

“I wish,” said he, “you would not make 
those nervous gestures. You frighten 
Humming-Bird; he is very timid.” 

Old Turtle grew frantic with rage, 
twisting his head back as far as he could 


62 GREY SPRITE, THE SILVER KNIGHT 

get it, and reaching up in vain attempts to 
scratch them off with his hind feet. Fail¬ 
ing in this, he abruptly plunged into the 
water while Humming-Bird and his rider 
skimmed away to the bush, where sat 
Blackbird and a number of his friends 
looking on. 

“I told you that you could do nothing 
with him,” said Blackbird. “My! but you 
were lucky to escape. I thought he had 
you that first time.” 

“There was no danger,” replied Grey 
Sprite. “Humming-Bird was watching 
him as a cat watches a mouse, and the tur¬ 
tle doesn’t live that can catch him. To tell 
the truth, I did not expect to get him to tell 
me for the asking, but now I am going to 
make him tell. When you said he liked 
his sunshine as well as his food, you gave 
me the clew I was looking for. I will 
take it as a great favor if you birds will tell 
me whenever you see him stick his head 


QUEST FOR THE ANCIENT JEWEL 63 

out of water. I am going to try to make it 
very interesting for him.” 

Just then one of the blackbirds called 
out, “Here he comes,” and Old Turtle be¬ 
gan to pull himself leisurely up on the 
rock again. 

“Poise just over him,” directed Grey 
Sprite, and as Humming-Bird obeyed, he 
let fly with one of the stones, hitting Old 
Turtle squarely on the end of the nose. 
The onslaught was so sudden that Old 
Turtle in a panic promptly slid off into the 
water. After a moment he came to the 
top again, and stuck his head out to see 
what in the world it was that attacked him. 
Bang! came another stone full on the top 
of his head, and down he went again. 
This time he settled down into the mud to 
think it over; his sluggish brain, never 
very good at its best, was very much dis¬ 
turbed by this strange attack, but he had 
gone down so quickly that he had not had 


6 + GREY SPRITE, THE SILVER KNIGHT 

time to get much air, so presently he tried 
again, coming up quite a little way off. 

By now, all the blackbirds of the swamp 
had learned what was going on, and imme¬ 
diately he was seen, word was passed along 
to Humming-Bird, watching not far away, 
so that he had barely got his bleary old 
eyes opened when another sharp stone 
took him just between those eyes, and 
again he scuttled hastily to the bottom. It 
was fully an hour before he made another 
attempt to get up on his rock, but 
Humming-Bird was perched there await¬ 
ing him, and he received such a warm re¬ 
ception that he sulked all the rest of the 
day in the mud at the bottom of the swamp, 
giving himself up to plots of revenge. 

The following morning dawned clear 
and bright, and soon the rocks and logs 
in the swamp were covered with turtles en¬ 
joying to the full the pleasant and healthy 
sun-bath. Old Turtle had succeeded in 
capturing the fat, young muskrat he had 


QUEST FOR THE ANCIENT JEWEL 65 

dreamed about, and was all ready to top off 
with a lazy nap on his favorite rock. 
Swimming leisurely alongside, he pulled 
his heavy shell out of the water, and had 
just relaxed with a huge sigh of content 
when the angry buzz was heard again as 
Humming-Bird dashed up, and whack! 
came another one of those dreadful stones 
right on sorest place hit by yesterday’s 
bombardment. Old Turtle tried to brave 
it out, but the missiles came too fast, their 
aim was too sure, and almost suffocating 
from mortification, fear, and rage, he was 
quickly forced to slide into the water 
again, and never once that day could he 
get his head up for more than a minute 
before he would have to dodge under to 
escape the terrible punishment that Grey 
Sprite was handing out to him. The 
worry of it all, together with the loss of his 
sun-bath, which really was very necessary 
to him, began to tell on him so much that, 
when on the next morning he found that 


66 GREY SPRITE, THE SILVER KNIGHT 

he couldn’t eat a bite, he gave in. Crawl¬ 
ing out on his rock, he watched anxiously 
for his tormenters, and as soon as he saw 
them coming, cried out, “I will tell you 
what you want to know.” 

“All right,” said Grey Sprite, “but be 
very sure you tell me correctly, for if you 
play me false, I will come back and hound 
you to death, and you shall have no pay on 
account of your treachery. Now what do 
you know about it?” 

“Honestly,” said Old Turtle, “I don’t 
know very much. I can only direct you 
to the one who does know where it is kept, 
and who has seen it. He told me.” 

“Who is he, and where can I find him?” 
demanded Grey Sprite. 

“It is Gold Stripe, the Spider, and he 
lives over in yonder field.” 

“All right,” said Grey Sprite severely, 
“be very sure you are not deceiving me, 
for I shall show you no mercy if you do.” 

“I am not deceiving you,” protested Old 




QUEST FOR THE ANCIENT JEWEL 67 

Turtle, but, as he spoke, he closed his eyes, 
for fear Grey Sprite might see the gleam 
of triumph in them; he was sure that he 
was sending Grey Sprite to his death. 

No one was more crafty and wicked 
than Gold Stripe. 


Part V 

Grey Sprite was for making the ac¬ 
quaintance of Gold Stripe at once, but 
Humming-Bird protested. 

“I am willing to help you to the limit 
of my strength,” he said, “but I think we 
both need some rest, and I would suggest 
we take a day’s vacation. My nerves are 
all a-flutter,” and as Grey Sprite looked 
closely at his little friend, he saw that in 
truth he was sadly worn out. So he 
agreed, and a day was spent in sleep and 
refreshment. 

When the next morning dawned, they 
felt ready to continue their task with good 


68 GREY SPRITE, THE SILVER KNIGHT 

courage. It was not long before, over in 
the field, they saw a beautiful web gleam¬ 
ing in the sunlight, with myriad little dew- 
drops on it—like a veritable Jewel itself. 
Hovering close over it Grey Sprite called, 
“Gold Stripe! Gold Stripe!” 

“Who calls me?” said a voice, and out 
of a cunningly concealed door appeared 
the most beautiful spider they had ever 
seen. He was black as ink, and his body 
was striped with bars of shining gold. 

“It is I,” said Grey Sprite, “a Fairy of 
the Queen’s Court, and I am seeking the 
Ancient Jewel.” Instantly the pleasant¬ 
est smile came over Gold Stripe’s face. 

“Welcome! Most welcome!” cried he. 
“What honor; what great honor this is! 
From the great Queen’s own Court! Oh, 
what a red-letter day this is! Pray alight, 
not on my web, for it is sticky and would 
soil your clothes, but down there on the 
moss, and I will come down to you.” 

“He’s too friendly on short ac- 


QUEST FOR THE ANCIENT JEWEL 69 

quaintance,” whispered Humming-Bird. 
“Look out for him.” 

Grey Sprite thought it prudent to stay 
on Humming-Bird’s back, but Gold Stripe 
seemed so glad to see them and was so 
anxious to help, that presently he grew 
ashamed of his suspicions and slid off on 
to the moss. 

“Just think,” gurgled Gold Stripe, “one 
of the Queen’s own Courtiers! Won’t 
you please tell me all about the Court and 
what they do? I have never even seen 
one of you before.” 

So Grey Sprite, not wishing to spoil the 
good impression he seemed to be making, 
sat down and told him all about the Fairies 
—how they lived and what they did—and 
described the Fairy Queen as well as he 
could. Gold Stripe listened as though 
spellbound, continually asking new ques¬ 
tions, and then he begged that Grey Sprite 
would let him feel of the shining clothes 
that he wore. 


70 GREY SPRITE, THE SILVER KNIGHT 

“How long can you stay with me?” he 
cried. “This visit is something I shall 
look back to all my life.” 

“I cannot delay, I fear,” said Grey 
Sprite, “for the need of haste is very ur¬ 
gent, and I have lost a lot of time. You 
shall have a great reward for helping me, 
you know.” 

“Reward!” said Gold Stripe. “It will be 
reward enough to me just to have seen you 
and talked with you, and have had a little 
chance to help the beautiful Fairy Queen; 
but really you must stay with me till to¬ 
morrow morning, for I’ve got to get out 
my map and refresh my memory. The 
directions are very complicated. There is 
a wonderful bush over on the other side 
of the field where Humming-Bird can get 
the sweetest nectar he ever tasted, and a 
crystal spring where both of you can 
bathe and refresh yourselves. You know 
there’s a hard journey ahead of you.” 

He said all this in such a friendly way 



Gold Stripe seemed so glad to see them. — Page 69 . 






















QUEST FOR THE ANCIENT JEWEL 71 

that even suspicious Humming-Bird felt 
ashamed of himself for having doubted 
him, and Grey Sprite said, “All right, go 
over and have a good feast, Humming- 
Bird, and I will stay here talking with 
Gold Stripe.” 

So away went the faithful little bird, his 
mind entirely at ease at the prospect of a 
speedy end to their searching. 

“You see,” said Gold Stripe, “I was ap¬ 
pointed long, long ago by the Gnomes, 
when they first found the Ancient Jewel, 
to be one of the guardians of the secret 
place, because I, alone of all the Woods 
People, could make a written record. 
The Gnomes could not use the Jewel, for 
it shows the truth of everything, and that 
is just what they don’t want. So they hid 
it. In those days I guess I used to be 
pretty bad myself, and they gave me this 
position and these gold stripes as my re¬ 
ward, but I know better now, and I shall 
be glad to see the Jewel go where it can do 


72 GREY SPRITE, THE SILVER KNIGHT 

good, and also to get the worry of having 
to guard the secret from my mind. I have 
a most wonderful map in my laboratory, 
showing how to reach it, and no one has 
ever seen it but myself. I tell you it is a 
masterpiece, and I am proud of it.” 

“I wish I might see it,” cried Grey 
Sprite, carried away by his overpowering 
desire to learn about the Jewel. 

“Well, why not?” said Gold Stripe, “if 
I am going to tell you all about it, what 
harm is there in showing you the map? 
I will have to strengthen the stairs to my 
laboratory though, for you might fall 
through. It won’t take me long,” and bid¬ 
ding him lie and rest, Gold Stripe hastened 
away. 

Once out of sight, the innocent look 
vanished, and in its place one of deepest 
craft and wickedness appeared. “Aha, I 
have him nibbling. Soon I shall hook 
him, and then I shall add another pretty 
Fairy jacket to my collection,” he cried to 


QUEST FOR THE ANCIENT JEWEL 73 

himself, and very rapidly he began to 
strengthen his web so that Grey Sprite 
would be held fast. 

When he had satisfied himself that all 
was ready, he called out, “Now if you will 
walk out on that limb on the left and jump 
down carefully where I point, we will go 
in and see my wonderful map.” Grey 
Sprite climbed out on the limb and obe- 
diantly jumped where he was told, only to 
sink into the sticky net, where he struggled 
furiously to clear himself but became en¬ 
meshed more and more every movement. 
Suddenly a noose fell about his arms, and 
Gold Stripe, jeering in derision, raced 
about him, spinning rope after rope which 
he drew tightly about the poor little Fairy, 
until he could no longer struggle. Even 
then he did not desist, but kept on binding 
the silken, sticky ropes about him until he 
had entirely hidden from view all except 
his little face, for it was Gold Stripe’s in¬ 
tention to keep him alive for a while and 


74 GREY SPRITE, THE SILVER KNIGHT 

fatten him up before he ate him. Where 
only a few moments ago stood a jaunty 
little Fairy full of courage and determina¬ 
tion now lay a motionless object that no 
one would even suspect was the same 
thing, and oh, the despair that over¬ 
whelmed poor Grey Sprite as he realized 
how he had been tricked! 

“Oho!” jeered the wicked spider. “You 
little guessed I was seeing how fat you 
were when you thought I was only feeling 
your pretty jacket. Wait, and I will show 
you another. I am making a collection 
of them,” and hurrying away, he came 
back presently with a little stained jacket, 
which revealed to Grey Sprite at once 
why one of the Fairies that had started out 
to find the Jewel had never returned. 

“I told you the truth about one thing,” 
laughed Gold Stripe. “I do know where 
the Jewel is, and I am going to tell you; 
but little good will it do you to know, for 
you will never look upon it. That Moun- 


QUEST FOR THE ANCIENT JEWEL 75 

tain you see over yonder is the Treasure 
House of the Gnomes. In it lives Blind 
Toad ceaselessly guarding the Ancient 
Jewel. There is only one entrance, and 
that is where the brook comes out of the 
side of the Mountain. As soon as you 
crawl under the opening, you will see a 
passage-way carved out of the solid rock.” 

Then in the most tantalizing fashion, the 
cruel spider proceeded to describe how 
one had to follow this passage, then that, 
where the guards were stationed, and the 
passwords that were used, until at last he 
described the great hall full of the 
Gnomes’ gold, at the farther end of which 
sat Blind Toad, ceaselessly guarding the 
Jewel. He even told him what to say to 
prevent the Toad from backing into his 
retreat with the Gem, and closing the trap¬ 
door. 

“Just think,” he jeered, “now you are 
within striking distance of what you have 
come so far to get, and you know all the 


76 GREY SPRITE, THE SILVER KNIGHT 

secret passages and the passwords, but in¬ 
stead of bearing it off with you in triumph, 
you are going to stay here all tied up until 
I think you are fat enough, and then I shall 
eat you up,” and he roared with laughter. 

“Aha! here comes some more supper,” 
he cried, as a poor little fly blundered into 
the sticky web. “Excuse me, I beg of you, 
while I attend to him,” he mocked, and 
hurried off to make him fast. 

Left to himself, Grey Sprite no longer 
gave way to despair. He knew that 
Humming-Bird was at large, and would 
leave no stone unturned to find him. So 
he set himself at work fixing the directions, 
the spider had given him, fast in his mem¬ 
ory. 

In the meantime, Humming-Bird had 
found the nectar bush just as Gold Stripe 
had told him, and had feasted to his heart’s 
content. His mind was entirely at ease, 
and he could see no reason why he should 
not enjoy himself. So he splashed about 


QUEST FOR THE ANCIENT JEWEL 77 

in the crystal spring until he was the most 
bedraggled bird that was ever seen, and 
then up on a little twig in the sun he began 
to shake himself and preen his feathers. 
Soon they were dry, and shining like brown 
satin. Every last one of them lay smooth 
and bright in its place. Then, as a feel¬ 
ing of pleasant drowsiness came over him, 
he closed his eyes just for a moment, and 
in spite of himself was fast asleep in the 
twinkling of an eye. 

He might have slept all the rest of the 
day and through the night, for he really 
was very tired, had it not been that Fly¬ 
catcher came along that way, and espied 
him sleeping on the limb. Now Fly¬ 
catcher was a particular friend of 
Humming-Bird’s, and had not seen him 
for a long time. He was so astonished to 
meet him there that he could not keep from 
waking him up to speak with him. When 
the drowsy bird finally opened his eyes and 
recognized his friend, he was very much 


78 GREY SPRITE, THE SILVER KNIGHT 

pleased, and they began to talk over their 
experiences. Presently Humming-Bird 
mentioned Gold Stripe’s name, and re¬ 
marking the look of grave concern that 
instantly came over Flycatcher’s face, said, 
“Why, what is the matter, isn’t he all 
right?” 

“Do you mean to tell me,” returned 
Flycatcher, “that you have left Grey 
Sprite alone with that bloody bandit? I 
very much fear that you will never see him 
alive again. Come, let us hurry and we 
may be lucky enough to get there in time 
to save his life.” 

Never had their little wings moved so 
quickly, and in almost less time than it 
takes to tell it, they were hovering over 
Gold Stripe’s web. 

Gold Stripe was expecting to see 
Humming-Bird back again, but he had 
Grey Sprite so wrapped up that his own 
Mother could not have recognized him. 
He had taken the precaution to put a big 


QUEST FOR THE ANCIENT JEWEL 79 

gag in his mouth, both to prevent his cry¬ 
ing for help, and also to cover up his face. 
He had prepared a very cunning story to 
tell Humming-Bird as to how the Fairy 
couldn’t wait, but had started off alone 
after the Jewel, and he was already laugh¬ 
ing in his sleeve at how he fancied 
Humming-Bird would dart away in his 
efforts to overtake his master. 

But when he saw Humming-Bird’s 
companion, he was keenly disappointed, 
for Flycatcher knew all of his tricks, and 
had a very sharp bill. So he made for a 
secret retreat that he always kept ready 
for emergencies where he was safe from 
the angry birds. 

“Grey Sprite, Grey Sprite!” called 
Humming-Bird in an agonized tone. No 
answer came. 

“That must be the poor little fellow 
rolled up there,” said Flycatcher, pointing 
to where Grey Sprite lay. Humming- 
Bird hovered over the closely wrapped 


80 GREY SPRITE, THE SILVER KNIGHT 

mass and could see the face of his com¬ 
rade although it was partly concealed by 
the big gag Spider had forced into his 
mouth to prevent him from crying out. 

Immediately the two birds began to pull 
away the clinging threads, and soon they 
were able to carry the whole mass to the 
ground, and found, to Humming-Bird’s 
intense joy, that Grey Sprite was still alive, 
and not so much the worse for his adven¬ 
ture. With his arms once more around 
Humming-Bird’s neck, they flew to the 
spring where the sticky mass was washed 
away. 


Part VI 

“Oh, Humming-Bird, I forgot to tell 
you,” suddenly cried Grey Sprite, “I have 
the directions for reaching the Jewel. 
Let us start at once before Gold Stripe can 
give the alarm.” 

As they passed over Gold Stripe’s web, 


QUEST FOR THE ANCIENT JEWEL 81 

Grey Sprite called loudly, “I am going for 
the Jewel now, but be very sure you shall 
see me again,” and over Gold Stripe’s 
heart settled a great dread, for he had be¬ 
trayed the secret of the Gnomes, and he 
feared the vengeance of Grey Sprite. 

Thanking Flycatcher for his assistance, 
they flew directly to the Mountain of the 
Gnomes, and began to hunt for the brook 
that flowed from its side. They were not 
long in discovering this, and sat for some 
little time discussing the situation. 

“It is plain enough,” said Grey Sprite, 
“that you cannot accompany me in there. 
What I accomplish after this I must do 
alone, and no one can tell what will hap¬ 
pen, but I am going in, and shall do my 
best. If I never come out again, tell the 
Queen where the Jewel is hidden, and give 
her all the directions for reaching it. We 
have accomplished that much, at least, and 
it will be easier for some one else later on 
to begin where we leave off, and perhaps 


82 GREY SPRITE, THE SILVER KNIGHT 

succeed. However, I am coming back 
again, and I shall have the Jewel with me. 
You had better stay hidden in this tree and 
be ready to come to my assistance quickly 
when you hear me call, for I may come 
out of that hole in a wonderful hurry.” 

“I dread to see you go in there,” said 
Humming-Bird anxiously, “but I can 
think of nothing else to do. You can 
count upon my being ready whenever you 
call. Good-by; keep up a brave heart.” 

So Grey Sprite entered on the last stage 
of his wearisome quest, and he knew he 
was going into a hostile fortress, and that 
there was no way out except that by which 
he had entered, but his courage never 
faltered a moment, and carefully review¬ 
ing the directions Gold Stripe had given 
him, he dipped down under the rocky rim 
of the hole where the brook came out, and 
immediately stood in a low sort of cave. 
Straight ahead was inky blackness. That 


QUEST FOR THE ANCIENT JEWEL 83 

must be the tunnel, he thought, so stepping 
very carefully he worked his way slowly 
ahead, keeping in touch with the wall on 
the right. Soon he came to what seemed 
to be a passage-way leading off at right 
angles. “This,” he thought, “is number 
one.” 

Crossing this, he felt his way along until 
again he came to another opening. 
“Number two,” he murmured. 

Again he pushed ahead and soon had 
passed number three. “Next one is where 
the fun begins,” he said, and anxiously 
realized the trouble that would happen if 
by any chance the password were incor¬ 
rect. “Gold Stripe may have lied about 
that, or it may have been changed. 

“Well, here goes!” he said, and making 
all the noise he could, walked boldly for¬ 
ward. As he turned into the fourth pas¬ 
sage, a' light shone suddenly, almost 
blinding him, and there stood a group of 


84 GREY SPRITE, THE SILVER KNIGHT 

ugly-looking, little fellows with sharp 
spears, all leveled at him, and these cried 
with one voice, “The password!” 

“Starlight, shine bright,” called back 
Grey Sprite in a clear, steady voice, al¬ 
though he could feel his knees shaking. 
At the words, the group fell back, half on 
each side, and without a word lowered 
their spears as a sign that he could pass. 
Walking boldly past them and glancing 
neither to the left nor the right, Grey 
Sprite pushed along into the deep gloom 
of the next passage. Here he stopped a 
moment to rest and get his breath, for his 
heart was beating so fast from the excite¬ 
ment it seemed as though it would burst. 
In a few moments he was himself again, 
and with increased confidence pressed on 
to the next turn to the left. 

Here again he was stopped by another 
group armed with shining swords, all 
pointed straight at his heart. “The pass¬ 
word!” they cried, and this time he could 


QUEST FOR THE ANCIENT JEWEL 85 

clearly make out the gleaming eyes and 
the fierce faces. 

“Starlight, shine bright in the night,” 
boldly quoted Grey Sprite, and without a 
moment’s hesitation, he advanced in the 
most confident manner upon them. Bow¬ 
ing to the ground, this group, as the others, 
separated, and he passed them as safely as 
he had done the first. 

“Only one more test,” he joyfully 
thought. “Oh, if the password only holds 
true!” 

For some distance now the tunnel 
wound in a curving direction, weaving 
back and forth like a snake, and Grey 
Sprite, although he kept constantly in 
touch with the left-hand wall, began to 
worry lest in some way he had gone by the 
last opening, for this was closed by a heavy 
door. Just at that moment, however, he 
felt its knob, and summoning all his cour¬ 
age, knocked three times. Slowly the 
door swung open, and a brilliant light 


86 GREY SPRITE, THE SILVER KNIGHT 

shone out, and before him stood a large 
band of the fiercest-looking Gnomes he 
had yet seen. Besides the gleaming 
swords stuck in their belts, they carried in 
their hands bows with the arrows drawn to 
the head, and every arrow was pointed at 
Grey Sprite’s heart. “The password!” 
they shrieked, and at the menacing scream, 
his blood almost froze in his veins. But 
he never faltered in his reply. 

“Starlight, shine bright in the night.” 

Then one of the band sprang in front of 
the others and cried, “What does it show?” 

“Truth,” answered Grey Sprite, and in¬ 
stantly the threatening bows were lowered, 
and the leader prostrating himself before 
him said, “What are thy commands for 
thy slaves?” 

At that moment Grey Sprite heard a dis¬ 
tant shouting, and like a flash the thought 
came to him that he was discovered. 
Calmly he held out his hand. 

“Rise, slave,” he said in his loftiest tone. 


QUEST FOR THE ANCIENT JEWEL 87 

“I am pursued by enemies who will try to 
pass you, claiming that I am an impostor. 
Hold this door to the last man. Let no 
one enter the chamber,” and again look¬ 
ing neither to the left nor to the right, he 
entered at last into the treasure hall of the 
Gnomes. It was shining with a golden 
light, and vaguely he sensed the heaps of 
gold, but stopping for nothing he hastened 
towards the end of the room and there, as 
Gold Stripe had told him, sat a huge toad. 
In front of him on a golden cushion lay 
the Ancient Jewel, shining with a steady, 
mellow light. At the sound of his foot¬ 
steps, Blind Toad seized the Jewel in his 
mouth and began to back hastily into the 
space below. 

“Truth must be revealed,” called Grey 
Sprite, and instantly the toad paused, wait¬ 
ing for the next words which Grey Sprite 
immediately added, “by the Ancient 
Jewel.” 

“Master,” murmured the old guardian. 


88 GREY SPRITE, THE SILVER KNIGHT 

Grey Sprite came close. 

“Listen, Blind Toad,” said he, “and the 
Jewel will tell you if I do not speak truly. 
The Gnomes have hidden this gem be¬ 
cause they do not love the right and only 
care for evil. Is it not so, O Starlight of 
the World?” and at his words the Jewel 
shone for a moment with a light so intense 

that even Blind Toad knew he had spoken 

\ 

the truth. “They have deceived you and 
have kept you blinded, an unknowing ac¬ 
complice to their wickedness.” Again 
the wonderful light filled the whole cav¬ 
ern. 

“Who are you?” cried Blind Toad. 

“I,” answered Grey Sprite, “am the am¬ 
bassador of the Fairy Queen and I have 
passed through all kinds of peril, even the 
guards of the Gnomes, to get to you and 
tell you this.” 

As he spoke the words, he heard the 
clashing of arms back at the door. The 
guards he had left were being attacked by 



He entered at last into the treasure hall of the 

Gnomes .—Page 87 . 













QUEST FOR THE ANCIENT JEWEL 89 

the other Gnomes, who with Gold Stripe 
at their head, had followed fast upon Grey 
Sprite’s trail. Gold Stripe called to them 
to let them pass, but to no avail, and im¬ 
mediately the whole band was engaged in 
a deadly struggle. 

“Quick, quick, Blind Toad!’’ cried 
Grey Sprite. “Give me the Ancient Jewel 
to take to the Fairy Queen, and I promise 
you that she will protect you and will give 
you eyes like Jewels which shall go down 
to all your children forever. Am I not 
speaking the truth, O Ancient Jewel?’’ 

Again the wonderful light shone over 
everything. Grey Sprite glanced back at 
the door, and to his horror saw Gold Stripe 
racing toward him. In some way he had 
slipped by the guards. 

“Quick, Blind Toad, into your hole,” 
he cried, and plunged in after him. Blind 
Toad lowered the trap-door, and for the 
moment they were safe from all the world. 
Then for the first time it occurred to him 


go GREY SPRITE, THE SILVER KNIGHT 

that Gold Stripe had said there was but 
one entrance to the Mountain, and he real¬ 
ized that although he had accomplished 
his purpose and held in his hand the Mys¬ 
tic Jewel, for desire of which his Queen 
was pining away, yet he was trapped and 
could never go back. 

Blind Toad sensed his thought, and said 
in a gentle tone, “Do not despair. Many 
years ago there came a horrible noise, and 
this whole mountain shook and shivered 
for a long time. Great groanings and 
horrible snapping sounds filled all the air. 
Then it was quiet again, and we breathed 
and found that we were still living. Later, 
when I had retired to my den to rest, I 
found a wide crack in the wall, and fol¬ 
lowing it, I breathed air that from its fresh¬ 
ness I knew came from the outside world. 
I think we can escape by that way.” 

Looking where he pointed, Grey Sprite 
could see a ragged crevice in the wall. 

“Come, let us go at once,” he said, and 


QUEST FOR THE ANCIENT JEWEL 91 

holding the Jewel in front of him, the way 
was made as bright as day. Many twists 
and turns there were, and in some places 
heavy rocks had to be moved to let Blind 
Toad through, but at length they came to 
the opening, and Grey Sprite rejoiced to 
breathe once more the pure air of the out¬ 
side world. Never had the blue sky and 
the sunlight looked so good to him. 

He was for calling Humming-Bird at 
once, but Blind Toad said, “What about 
me? What am I going to do?” and Grey 
Sprite realized that although Humming- 
Bird could carry him and the Jewel, Blind 
Toad’s great weight was far beyond his 
strength. Drawing back into the pas¬ 
sage, they tried to think of some way to pro¬ 
vide for the latter’s safety. At length 
Grey Sprite cried, “I have it. Have you 
ever told any one of this opening?” 

“No,” replied the Toad. 

“Good,” continued Grey Sprite. “Then 
you will remain here close to the entrance. 


92 GREY SPRITE, THE SILVER KNIGHT 

I will hasten to the Court with the Jewel. 
The Queen will give me power to change 
you into a Fairy like myself, and we will 
return to her and she will continue you 
in your office as the Keeper of the Jewel. 
What I promised about all the toads hav¬ 
ing jeweled eyes shall still hold good. Is 
that not right, Jewel?” and Old Toad 
could sense through all his nerves the won¬ 
drous response of the Jewel. 

Part VII 

The beautiful day was drawing to a 
close. Everywhere Nature could be seen 
at her best. Cooling showers earlier in 
the day had washed the dust from the 
leaves and flowers, and everywhere was 
happiness except in the one spot where it 
should, by rights, have been most pro¬ 
nounced : the Court of the Fairies. For a 
while after Grey Sprite’s departure, the 
Queen had resumed her old happy self, 


QUEST FOR THE ANCIENT JEWEL 93 

and her little people who lived on her 
smiles grew correspondingly gay; but a 
long time had passed. Brown Moth had 
returned bearing tales of failure, and from 
that time nothing had been heard of the lit¬ 
tle hero. From worrying about the Jewel, 
the Queen’s anxieties had turned upon 
Grey Sprite. 

“I fear I have sent him to his death,” she 
confessed to Woodbine one night, as the 
latter was brushing out the luxuriant 
fluffy hair of her mistress. “The others I 
have not minded so much, for we did not 
realize the danger of the quest. But we 
all knew the risk when Grey Sprite went, 
and in spite of it I did not forbid his de¬ 
parture.” And she broke out into the 
most violent weeping. Through all this 
time Woodbine had never once faltered in 
her belief that her faithful friend would 
some day return bearing the Jewel with 
him, but to-night she was tired and very 
lonesome, and the Queen’s fears sank 


94 GREY SPRITE, THE SILVER KNIGHT 

deeply into her heart in a way that they 
had never done before. A great horror 
crept over her. What if poor Grey Sprite 
had fallen prey to some terrible thing and 
was dead, and she would never see him 
again! Things began to swim before her 
eyes, and staggering to the window she 
drew in the fresh air striving desperately 
to get back her self-control, when sud¬ 
denly she called out, “Oh, Your Majesty, 
come here, quick! quick!” and began to 
dance about, as though she had gone out 
of her senses. The Queen, in her anxiety 
for Woodbine, forgot for the moment her 
own trouble and hastened to her side, only 
to stand gazing in astonishment at the 
courtyard below, for there, surrounded by 
an ever-increasing crowd of cheering 
Fairies, stood a brown Humming-Bird, 
and on his back sat Grey Sprite smiling 
and waving his hand. 

“Grey Sprite! Grey Sprite!” called 
Woodbine, and glancing up to the win- 


QUEST FOR THE ANCIENT JEWEL 95 

dow whence the two eager faces looked 
out together, he waved his hat in happy 
triumph. “He has it! He has it, I 
know!” cried Woodbine, as she danced 
for sheer joy about her mistress. “Oh, 
come, let me get you ready quickly, for it 
would not be seemly for the Queen to ap¬ 
pear in such disarray.” 

The Queen was on her throne of state, 
surrounded by her Courtiers! The Mas¬ 
ter of Ceremonies was advancing before 
her as she sat surrounded by all the great 
ones of her Court! Behind him came 
Grey Sprite, carrying something on a 
golden salver covered with a golden cloth. 
The Master of Ceremonies held up his 
hand and announced: 

“Grey Sprite with the Ancient Jewel,” 
and all the trumpeters of the Queen’s 
Court blew as loudly as they could, and 
all the Fairies cheered and waved their 
hands, and cheered again and again until 
they were so hoarse that they no longer 


96 GREY SPRITE, THE SILVER KNIGHT 

could make themselves heard. Poor Grey 
Sprite almost wished himself back in 
Gold Stripe’s web, he was so embarrassed. 
When quiet was at last restored, he stepped 
forward, and kneeling at her feet placed 
the Jewel in his Queen’s hand, and then 
stole a look at Woodbine who was stand¬ 
ing just behind her. What he saw in her 
eyes satisfied him, even if he got no other 
reward. The Queen took the Jewel rev¬ 
erently, and gazed at Grey Sprite through 
streaming eyes. “Faithful, loyal Fairy,” 
said she, and instantly the Jewel glowed 
with such a brilliant light that she almost 
dropped it in her astonishment, “what can 
your Queen do to reward you?” 

“Your Majesty,” answered Grey Sprite, 
“I have but two requests to make.” 

“Name them,” said the Queen; “they 
are granted even before you make them 
known.” 

“First, I ask honors for my brave com¬ 
panions,” said Grey Sprite, “without 


QUEST FOR THE ANCIENT JEWEL 97 

whose help I could never have succeeded. 
Brown Moth carried me on his broad 
back, and really started me.” 

“Brown Moth,” said the Queen, “shall 
have beautiful wings in the future, banded 
and marked with rich colors, and his body 
shall be covered with fur striped with red 
and white bands. No moth of the night, 
save my own, shall be more beautiful than 
he.” 

“Then there was Red Lizard.” 

“He,” said the Queen, “shall have a 
beautiful gold stripe down each side of his 
back.” 

“The Blackbirds’ help was invaluable,” 
continued Grey Sprite. 

“The Blackbirds shall wear forever¬ 
more scarlet and gold epaulets on their 
shoulders,” promised the Queen. 

“It was Flycatcher’s warning and help 
that saved me from death at the hands of 
Gold Stripe,” said Grey Sprite. 

.“Flycatcher and all that come after him 


98 GREY SPRITE, THE SILVER KNIGHT 

shall wear a crest on top of the head as a 
memento,” was the response. 

“Now about Blind Toad. You see I 
was in a desperate fix, and only had a few 
moments to persuade him to come over 
to our side, and I promised him that if he 
would do so, you would change him to a 
Fairy, make him Keeper of the Jewel here 
at your Court, and give him and all the 
race of toads eyes like Jewels,” and Grey 
Sprite gazed anxiously into the face of his 
Queen. 

“All shall be as you promised,” smiled 
she. 

“Last but not least, gallant Humming- 
Bird. What can you do for him?” 

“Come here, Humming-Bird,” called 
the Queen, for he was looking on among 
the throng of Courtiers. As he advanced, 
the Queen waved her wand, and a wonder¬ 
ful change took place. A loud murmur 
of admiration filled the room, for instantly 
the plain little brown bird was changed 


QUEST FOR THE ANCIENT JEWEL gg 

into the most beautiful creature they had 
ever seen. He shone all over with the 
colors of the Jewel, and at his throat blazed 
a great ruby. “For you and yours for¬ 
ever,” cried the Queen, and to this day he 
flits from flower to flower, a living gem. 

“Now that we have finished with your 
friends,” said the Queen, smiling, “sup¬ 
pose you ask something for yourself.” 

A look of grim determination settled 
over Grey Sprite’s countenance. “Your 
Majesty,” he said, “at the foot of the 
Gnome’s mountain dwells a wicked, 
bloody-minded bandit, Gold Stripe. He 
murders every innocent creature that 
comes along, and on his wall is hanging 
the blood-stained coat of one of our broth¬ 
ers. I ask for myself a leave of absence 
from the Court. I have an account to set¬ 
tle with him, and I wish to pay it.” 

“Is there nothing else you wish?” asked 
the Queen. 

“Nothing, Your Majesty,” said Grey 


ioo GREY SPRITE, THE SILVER KNIGHT 

Sprite. “The pleasure of bringing to you 
your heart’s desire is for me the greatest 
reward I can conceive of.” 

At this the Queen clapped her hands. 
A door opened and two pages bore into 
the room a wonderful suit of armor that 
shone like burnished silver ; also a glitter¬ 
ing sword hanging from a belt of gold. 
“Put them on him, Woodbine,” smiled the 
Queen. When the last buckle was 
clasped, she cried, “Kneel, sir,” and as 
Grey Sprite knelt before her, she drew the 
sword from its jeweled sheath, and striking 
him lightly on the shoulder, said in a clear 
voice: 

“I dub you my especial Guard and give 
you the Impenetrable Armor and the In¬ 
vincible Sword. I also give you permis¬ 
sion to settle your account with Gold 
Stripe, but that can wait a little while, for 
I think you need rest,” and as Grey 
Sprite glanced over her shoulder, his eyes 
met those of the Queen’s favorite attend- 



QUEST FOR THE ANCIENT JEWEL ioi 

ant, and what they told him made him de¬ 
cide that his Queen knew best. 

And this is how the Ancient Jewel left 
its abode in the Mountain of the Gnomes 
and came to be at the Court of the Fairy 
Queen. 


CHAPTER III 


THE RESCUE OF THE FIVE FAIRIES 

G REY SPRITE,” asked the 
Queen, “why it it that when 
every one is so happy, and you 
should be most so, I see no smiles on your 
face?” 

“How can I laugh, Your Majesty,” he 
returned, “when, ever before my eyes, 
waking or sleeping, I see that little stained 
jacket; and always in my ears are ringing 
the screams of the poor victims struggling 
in the toils of that wicked Spider? I 
shall never smile again until with your 
permission I have rid the world of him.” 

The Queen, looking into his determined 
face, knew that he spoke truly, and that it 
was best that he should go. But she 
dreaded to meet the accusing eyes of her 


102 


THE RESCUE OF THE FIVE FAIRIES 103 

little Handmaid when the latter should 
learn of it. 

Grey Sprite’s purpose was almost 
shaken when a little later Woodbine came 
rushing to him, and with trembling lips 
begged that he would give up his plans. 
“Let some one else do this,” she cried; 
“you have been through enough peril.” 

“No, Woodbine,” he answered, smiling 
sadly. “This is my job, and no one else 
can do it. I could never hold up my head 
again, if I passed it by,” and he comforted 
her as best he might, while she sobbed bit¬ 
terly on his shoulder. 

The whole Court assembled to see him 
off the next morning, and as he circled 
about, clad in his shining armor and 
mounted upon his faithful Humming- 
Bird gemmed with all the colors of the 
rainbow, they cheered and cheered, until 
with a final wave of his hand, he darted 
away in the direction of Gnome-Land. 
But the Queen had a very hard time all the 


104 GREY SPRITE, THE SILVER KNIGHT 

rest of the day trying in vain to comfort a 
certain little Fairy whom she loved very 
dearly, and who did nothing but weep and 
moan, “Oh, you should never have let 
him go!” 

The fresh morning breeze and the ex¬ 
hilaration of the speed at which they were 
traveling soon drove all thoughts of sor¬ 
row from his mind, however, and as he 
began to lay his plans, his lips pursed up 
in a merry whistle, and Humming-Bird, 
who had kept an anxious eye upon him, 
remarked to himself, “Til risk him now.” 

All day they flew swiftly toward the 
west, and as night came on, found a safe 
place to rest, and slept soundly till the 
Morning Star sent out its summons to the 
wood-folk to rouse and prepare for an¬ 
other day. After a good breakfast of 
honey, they resumed their journey, and so 
for a number of days they sped along, till 
just as they had begun to think of camping 
for another night, Humming-Bird sud- 


THE RESCUE OF THE FIVE FAIRIES 105 

denly cried, “Does not that mountain off 
on the horizon have a familiar look?” and 
Grey Sprite felt a sudden momentary tight¬ 
ening of his breath, for it was the Mountain 
of the Gnomes, and he was nearing the 
meadow where Gold Stripe lived. After 
scouting about for some supper, they 
found a snug spot in a thick fir-tree, and 
were busily engaged in their plans for the 
morrow, when with a powerful, swinging 
flight, a large, black woodpecker lit close 
beside them. 

Noticing how plump the bird was, 
Grey Sprite asked him how he kept so 
fat? 

“Well,” laughed the woodpecker, “the 
truth of the matter is that I have so much 
to eat, and get it so easily, that it is ruining 
my health. You see there is a very curious 
old chap who lives in the defile that leads 
through the mountains into Gnome-Land. 
Some say that he is a sorcerer, and I be¬ 
lieve he is, myself; anyway, he has five of 


106 GREY SPRITE, THE SILVER KNIGHT 

the funniest-looking mice working for 
him, and all day long he keeps them gnaw¬ 
ing around trees until they are girdled; of 
course you know that then they die, and 
this chap sells them to the worms, and gets 
a big price for them. I hang around and 
keep sampling the trees until they are soft 
enough, and then I get the worms. I tell 
you I have a choice assortment of trees.” 

Grey Sprite was quite interested in the 
story, and asked what the sorcerer’s name 
was. 

“They call him Praying Mantis about 
here,” Woodpecker answered. “He is al¬ 
ways pretending to be praying. At first 
glance you might take him for a big 
grasshopper, but he carries a very sharp 
sword, and I guess he knows how to use 
it pretty well, from what I hear. Every 
one around here is afraid of him, and the 
way he treats those poor mice is scandal¬ 
ous. They look half starved, and he is 
continually beating them.” 


THE RESCUE OF THE FIFE FAIRIES 107 

“I think, Humming-Bird,” said Grey 
Sprite, “we will call upon this gentleman 
when we get through with our present 
business, and make his acquaintance. 
There appears to be something queer go¬ 
ing on there.” 

In the morning they said good-by to 
Woodpecker, and after a hearty break¬ 
fast, started out with the feeling that before 
night, they would have reached a conclu¬ 
sion with Gold Stripe. 

It was about noon when they spied the 
great swamp where Old Turtle lived, and 
they could see the Blackbirds, vain in 
their new, scarlet epaulets, flitting about. 
But they did not make themselves known, 
for it was Grey Sprite’s intention to take 
Gold Stripe by surprise, and they did not 
intend that any rumor of their coming 
should get about. 

Circling high above the meadow where 
he lived, they could see his web, but there 
was no sign of the Spider. “Well, let us 


108 GREY SPRITE, THE SILVER KNIGHT 

get closer,” said Grey Sprite, and as they 
darted quickly down beside it, Grey Sprite, 
drawing his sword, cut through one of the 
supports of the web so that it sagged to the 
ground. 

No Spider appeared, and then they no¬ 
ticed that the web was all torn and dirty. 
Cutting away the other supports, it col¬ 
lapsed entirely, and falling, disclosed the 
entrance to the cavern where Gold Stripe 
was accustomed to hide when danger 
threatened. 

Looking in, Grey Sprite could see no 
sign of his enemy, and, telling Humming- 
Bird to keep close at hand ready for any 
emergency, he descended into the cave. 

Everything looked deserted and neg¬ 
lected, and the Fairy could easily see that 
there had been no one living there for 
some time past. On the wall before him 
was hanging the little jacket that Gold 
Stripe had so exultingly exhibited, and 
with a feeling of pity for the unfortunate 


THE RESCUE OF THE FIVE FAIRIES 109 

owner, Grey Sprite wrapped it round his 
arm and then climbed out to the daylight 
again. 

Here he found Humming-Bird deep in 
conversation with a group of Crickets 
who had gathered to find out what was go¬ 
ing on, and were busily retailing all the 
gossip of the neighborhood to their bril¬ 
liant listener. 

“We have important news from our 
friends here,” he cried, as he caught sight 
of Grey Sprite clambering out of the den. 
“Our search is over before we have hardly 
begun it. Gold Stripe has been carried 
off a captive to Gnome Mountain, and by 
this time has probably paid the penalty for 
his thoughtlessness in telling you the pass¬ 
words.” 

As he finished speaking, one of the 
Crickets caught sight of the jacket on 
Grey Sprite’s arm and began to laugh. 
“That was a good joke on Gold Stripe,” 
said he. 


no GREY SPRITE, THE SILVER KNIGHT 

“What do you mean?” demanded the 
Fairy. 

“Why, quite a long time ago, a Fairy 
came along here, inquiring about the 
Ancient Jewel. Gold Stripe tricked him 
and got him tangled up in his web. He 
took his jacket off and went round show¬ 
ing it to all the spiders in the neighbor¬ 
hood, boasting about his capture. But 
when he went back to eat him, the Fairy 
had gone. In some way he had freed him¬ 
self and made good his escape. Gold 
Stripe was furious, and hunted the whole 
country over looking for him, and al¬ 
though he always claimed that he found 
him and ate him up, no one ever believed 
that he told the truth. That jacket was all 
he ever got.” 

“Can you tell me where the Fairy 
went?” asked Grey Sprite. 

“No, we never knew what became of 
him,” returned Cricket, “but we always 
thought that he got through to Gnome- 


THE RESCUE OF THE FIVE FAIRIES hi 

Land and, of course, that was the end of 
him.” 

Grey Sprite chuckled to himself. “If 
he but knew it, he is talking to one Fairy 
who has been to Gnome-Land and hasn’t 
reached his end yet,” but he kept his peace, 
and only remarked, “I am glad he got 
away from Gold Stripe, anyway.” 

“Well,” said Humming-Bird, “I don’t 
see anything to keep us here any longer. 
What do you say, shall we hunt for Pray¬ 
ing Mantis, and find out what he is up to?” 

“Yes,” said Grey Sprite, “it cannot be 
far from here. Woodpecker claimed that 
he lived in the defile that goes through the 
mountains to Gnome-Land.” 

Once again upon their journey, they 
flew straight towards the forest in the de¬ 
file, and soon they began to notice frequent 
dead trees all having been girdled, and in 
many of them they could see the holes that 
Woodpecker had bored. 

“I wish,” remarked Grey Sprite, “that 


112 GREY SPRITE, THE SILVER KNIGHT 

we could run across some one who lives 
here, and find out what the people in the 
forest think of Mantis. Let us keep a 
sharp lookout.” 

So Humming-Bird slowed up and 
dropped down closer to the ground. Af¬ 
ter flying a little way, he suddenly spied a 
White-Footed Mouse hopping across a 
small, open space, and flying close to him, 
called out, “Greetings, White-Foot.” 
The mouse seemed a little frightened for 
a moment, but Grey Sprite soon set him 
at ease, and then asked if he knew anything 
about Praying Mantis. 

At the name, White-Foot grew pale and 
looked about, as if seeking some avenue of 
escape. 

“I know all I want to about him,” he at 
length murmured in a low tone, as if 
afraid of being overheard. “You want to 
keep away from him. He is a very 
wicked and powerful sorcerer.” 

“What is it about the five mice he has 


THE RESCUE OF THE FIFE FAIRIES 113 

working for him?” asked Grey Sprite. 
“Have you any acquaintance with them?” 

“No,” said White-Foot. “No one ever 
talks with them. He doesn’t allow them 
out of his sight for a minute. I tell you it 
is the most pitiful sight. He nearly 
starves them, and keeps them working 
from morning till night, and I often hear 
them scream as he beats them. I don’t be¬ 
lieve they are real mice. You see he has 
a magic bed in his house. It looks very 
inviting, and when weary travelers come 
there, he puts them to bed, and then they 
are in his power and he does as he likes 
with them. If you are wise, you will keep 
very far from him,” and pleading an im¬ 
portant engagement, White-Foot hurried 
away. 

“More and more interesting,” said 
Humming-Bird. “Praying Mantis must 
be bad, and I think you had better be very 
careful in your dealings with him.” 

As the afternoon sun was still high in the 


H 4 GREY SPRITE, THE SILVER KNIGHT 

heavens, Grey Sprite suggested that they 
look about through the woods, and per¬ 
haps find Mantis and his crew at work. 

So they circled about, darting in and 
out through the forest until all at once in 
the distance they saw figures moving about 
a tree. 

“I think they are there,” said Grey 
Sprite. “Go as near as you can, but don’t 
let them see us.” 

Flying carefully up to a tree with very 
thick leaves, they alighted on a branch and 
looked down upon a queer sight. 

Praying Mantis was a most terrible- 
looking object. He had a huge body, and 
projecting a long distance in front of it 
was his small head, entirely out of pro¬ 
portion. But his front legs attracted Grey 
Sprite’s attention most of all. These were 
like arms, very long and muscular, and 
growing out of each was a sharp sword. 
He was continually screaming out or¬ 
ders to five pitifully thin mice, who were 


THE RESCUE OF THE FIFE FAIRIES 115 

grouped about a tree and gnawing, as if 
for life, at the bark. Did one of them 
slow up for a minute, Old Mantis would 
scream at him, and several times while 
they were watching, he struck a poor, little 

mouse a terrible blow with the flat of his 
sword. 

Grey Sprite’s blood boiled at the sight, 
but he restrained himself, for he wished to 
learn more about the whole affair before 
interfering. 

So he whispered to Humming-Bird, 
“Let us find his house, and I will meet him 
there.” 

Down below they could see a well-worn 
path, leading back towards the defile, and 
flying along over this, they soon came to a 
large, open cave. 

“This must be the place,” said 
Humming-Bird, and on the word, flew 
down to the ground beside it, allowing 
Grey Sprite to alight. 

When no one answered his knock, Grey 


ii6 GREY SPRITE, THE SILVER KNIGHT 

Sprite ventured to enter. There was 
plenty of light, as the front was all open. 
On one side stood a table littered with 
fragments of food. Around the back of 
the room was a series of boxes, each with 
a round hole in front. Those must be 
where he keeps the mice, thought Grey 
Sprite. But the most striking thing in 
the room was a large bed, all made up, and 
so soft and inviting-looking that the Fairy 
could hardly resist the temptation to lie 
down and take a nap; had it not been for 
the warning of White-Foot, he probably 
would have done so. But forewarned 
was forearmed, and resisting the feeling, 
Grey Sprite hurried out to where Hum¬ 
ming-Bird was waiting for him. Hav¬ 
ing told him his plan, he sent him up in a 
tree close by, where he would be within 
easy calling distance. Then covering en¬ 
tirely his bright armor with a dark cloak, 
he hid a little way down the path to wait 
for the return of Mantis and his servants. 


THE RESCUE OF THE FIFE FAIRIES 117 

Just as the sun was setting, he saw them 
coming slowly along, the five mice hob¬ 
bling along in front, so tired that Grey 
Sprite expected to see them faint any mo¬ 
ment. Mantis kept close behind them, 
and it was pitiful to see in what great ter¬ 
ror they were of him. Grey Sprite’s eyes 
grew hard as he saw the blows the poor 
creatures were continually receiving. 

As soon as they had passed him and had 
entered the cave, the Fairy followed, and 
knocked at the entrance. There was such 
an uproar going on inside that he was not 
heard, and glancing in, he saw Old Mantis 
driving the poor mice into their holes, and 
beating them cruelly as they went. 

Again he knocked, this time making a 
great noise, and instantly Mantis whirled 
about. For a moment he glared at him 
with the wickedest eyes Grey Sprite had 
ever seen; like a flash, however, the angry 
look was gone and instead was one that 
the sorcerer intended to convey welcome. 


u8 GREY SPRITE, THE SILVER KNIGHT 

But it was so false that it was even more 
repulsive than the former one. 

“What do you wish?” he asked of the 
Fairy. 

“A night’s lodging,” said Grey Sprite. 

“Have you anything to pay for it?” in¬ 
quired the greedy Mantis. 

“Yes,” answered Grey Sprite, “I have 
plenty of money.” 

Upon hearing this, Mantis invited him 
to come in and make himself at home. 
“Let me get you something to eat,” said 
the Host, but Grey Sprite, not knowing 
what might be put into the food, politely 
declined, saying that he had recently 
supped and was not hungry. 

He could not keep from jumping, when 
the next minute, with a savage roar, Mantis 

I 

hurled a stick of wood in the direction of 
the mice. 

“Get back in there and stay there,” he 
yelled at the mice, for out of each hole was 
peeking an excited little face. 


THE RESCUE OF THE FIVE FAIRIES 119 

“I have no candles,” said Mantis, “and 
as it will soon be dark, I think I had bet¬ 
ter get you to bed now,” and as he uttered 
the words, a sad, little moan was heard 
from the mice. 

“Thank you,” said Grey Sprite. 
“Nothing will suit me better, for I am very 
tired. While I am undressing, would you 
mind getting me a drink of fresh, cold 
water from the spring I saw by the path as 
I came up? I will pay you well for it.” 

Mantis could not well refuse the request, 
so taking a cup from the table, he passed 
out of the cave. 

Instantly Grey Sprite caught up a large 
log that was lying on the floor, wrapped 
his cloak about it, placed it in the bed, and 
covered it up with the blankets. Then 
concealing himself in an angle of the wall, 
he awaited the return of Mantis. 

He had barely finished when the great 
creature came hurrying back with the 
water. Glancing at the bed and seeing, as 


120 GREY SPRITE, THE SILVER KNIGHT 

he thought, the Fairy safely tucked up 
there, he gave an exultant cry, and throw¬ 
ing down the water, pounced upon his 
supposed victim, crying out: 

“Another mouse for my gang.” 

Tearing the bedclothes aside, he gazed, 
as if petrified, for a moment upon what 
met his view, and then realizing quickly 
that he had been tricked, whirled about 
with a terrible roar of rage. There, fac¬ 
ing him, stood the Fairy in his shining 
armor, and in his hand a flashing sword. 

Never before had the Invincible Sword 
met such a task. Flis huge antagonist, 
with a deadly blade in each hand, and with 
a reach that kept his body entirely out of 
danger, was apparently protected from all 
harm, and Grey Sprite realized in a mo¬ 
ment the peril in which he was placed. 

Only a sword such as he possessed could 
have staved off instant death, for the two 
swords of Mantis rained blows upon him 
with the rapidity of lightning. For a 


THE RESCUE OF THE FIVE FAIRIES 121 

short time, he maintained the unequal 
contest, but although the blades of Mantis 
could not reach him, he began to tire, and 
he could see no hope of success. Just 
then, as he leaped back against the wall to 
avoid a sudden attack, he heard one of the 
mice squeak, “Break his swords,” and in¬ 
stantly acting on the suggestion, he struck 
with all his might at one of the blades that 
was just decending upon him. Here the 
Invincible Sword could show its metal, 
and at the impact, it cut clear through the 
weapon of Praying Mantis. 

With a surge of renewed courage, Grey 
Sprite rushed in upon his enemy, and in 
another second, the great sorcerer was dis¬ 
armed. With a yell that caused every 
creature within hearing to shudder and 
hide, Mantis wheeled like a flash, tore 
away into the woods, and was never seen 
again. Hearing a sound behind him, 
Grey Sprite turned to protect himself 
against some new danger, but to his in- 


122 GREY SPRITE, THE SILVER KNIGHT 

tense astonishment, instead of five mice, 
there stood five little Fairies of the Queen’s 
Court, and one of them was without a 
jacket. 

.One by one in the times that had passed, 
these Fairies had found their way at last 
to Gnome-Land, and as they passed 
through the defile, weary and hungry, they 
had fallen easy victims to the wiles of the 
wicked Mantis, who had turned them all 
into mice and had kept them in the crud¬ 
est bondage through all these years. 

As night had now fallen, they all 
climbed into the great soft bed that no 
longer could harm, and slept soundly with¬ 
out fear. 

When Humming-Bird appeared in the 
morning, it was hard to tell who was more 
astonished, the Fairies, as they gazed at 
his resplendent colors and the great ruby 
gleaming at his throat, or he, as he saw the 
change that had come over the mice that 
he had so pitied the day before. 



There stood five little Fairies of the Queen’s Court 

Page 122. 


















THE RESCUE OF THE FIVE FAIRIES 123 

“How can I ever carry you all?” he 
cried. 

“It will not be necessary,” said Grey 
Sprite. “Go find Woodpecker. He is 
big enough to do it, and our Mistress, I am 
sure, will want to say something to him. 
But for his tale we should never in the 
world have found our brothers here.” 

So back to Fairy-Land they all flew. 
When Woodpecker returned to his 
hunting-grounds again, he was for a long 
time so in love with the great scarlet crest 
the Queen had given him to wear, and 
spent so much time admiring himself as 
he saw his reflection in the spring, that he 
actually forgot to eat as much as usual, 
and so grew thin without meaning to, thus 
receiving a greater blessing—one he had 
not expected—for is not good health to be 
more desired than beauty? 



CHAPTER IV 


THE DESTRUCTION OF THE WILD FLOWERS 

‘ ‘ RDERS from the Queen, West 

S 1 Wind,” and the saucy little 
Page waved his hand impa¬ 
tiently as the great wind slowly gathered 
himself to attention. “Go at once to 
Wildwood, and announce that in two 
weeks, on the night of the full moon, Her 
Majesty is coming to inspect the blossoms, 
and there will be the usual prize for the 
most beautiful, and another Fairy will be 
added to her Court from that locality. 
Hasten, for the time is short.” 

Out from Fairy-Land flew the gentle 
West Wind, sifting along over hill and 
dale, over meadow, through deep, dark 
forests, until in the course of time he came 

to Wildwood, and there so thoroughly did 

124 


DESTRUCTION OF THE WILD FLOWERS 125 

he carry out his instructions that not a 
single leaf on a bush, not a blade of grass 
on the ground but had heard his soft 
whisper as he sighed along on his journey, 
and in the twinkling of an eye the great 
contest was on. 

Such a scrubbing and prinking had not 
been seen in Wildwood since the time 
Woodbine and Old Pine had each won a 
prize, and every flower in the glade deter¬ 
mined that it should be successful. 

The contest was different from the ear¬ 
lier one in that it was limited to the flowers. 

June had just arrived, and her soft, 
warm caresses had swelled the growing 
buds till they were on the point of bursting 
into visions of beauty, and now with this 
to help them, they would become most 
lovely. 

The two weeks passed all too quickly, 
and at last the appointed night arrived. 
Everywhere was beauty, but of course 
there were bound to be some who stood 


126 GREY SPRITE, THE SILVER KNIGHT 

out high above the rest, and it was of these 
that most of the talk was about. 

Swaying on its tall, green stalk with the 
cluster of dark green leaves about its base, 
stood Lady-Slipper, a symphony in pink 
and green, and she had found a perfume 
that was so subtle and wonderful that the 
butterflies and great night moths were con¬ 
tinually begging her for a little. 

Close beside her, Jack-in-the-Pulpit 
reared his green-and-white striped coat, 
and although he had no wonderful col¬ 
ors to show, yet his whole make-up was so 
cleverly blended, and his greens and 
whites so well arranged that many came to 
admire and applaud him. 

At the foot of a mass of broken, moss- 
covered rocks, where Old Oak grew, a 
great clump of Columbines were tossing 
in the breezes. They had daringly ar¬ 
rayed themselves in bright red and gold, 
and on their shiny black stems made a 
beautiful picture. 


DESTRUCTION OF THE WILD FLOWERS 127 

One night, some newcomers had ap¬ 
peared in the Glade. No one knew them, 
and they paid no attention to what was 
going on about them. Of a pearly white, 
like alabaster, and with every petal and 
every feature of their lovely faces as if 
carved, they stood like beautiful statues, 
modestly hanging their heads. South 
Wind, who could not tear himself away, 
finally coaxed from them their name: 

“Indian Pipes,” one of them murmured, 
but not another word could he get from 
them. Oh, the masses of Violets of all 
kinds, from the great Horseshoe with its 
golden heart to the fragrant White One, 
coyly hiding down where the little rill 
trickled away to the brook in the next val¬ 
ley. Farther down, where the grass grew 
lush and long in the meadow, were the 
Cowslips shining as if they had found the 
secret lair of the Gnomes and had stolen 
all their gold. 

Many of the lookers-on thought that the 


128 GREY SPRITE, THE SILVER KNIGHT 

Wild Geraniums, with their delicate lav¬ 
ender and pink dresses and their swaying 
branches would take the prize, and kept 
whispering to them to hold their heads 
high in the air so that they would surely be 
seen. 

There was one contestant who was weep¬ 
ing all this time. Wild Rose had ordered 
some elaborate colors and had been work¬ 
ing with feverish haste to be ready, but 
alas, there had been so much delay in get¬ 
ting her blossoms to her that she was only 
partly dressed; and when she thought of 
the wonderful effect she would have pro¬ 
duced had she only had more time, she 
could not hide her disappointment. 

And now, as the appointed time drew 
near, and the great Sun setting in the vio¬ 
let west was superseded by the Golden 
Moon rising in all her majesty, the con¬ 
testants and their friends sat down to 
await, with what patience they could, the 
coming of the Fairy Queen and her Court. 


DESTRUCTION OF THE WILD FLOWERS 129 

From far and near the Torch-Bearers 
began to assemble, and the pale, golden- 
green light of the myriad Fireflies, to¬ 
gether with the Moonlight, made the 
Glade almost as bright as day. 

All about the level patch of red-topped 
grey moss on the big flat rock where the 
Court was to convene was assembling the 
Cricket Orchestra. In the back row were 
the big bass frogs, with a band of little 
green pipers at one side. The Katydid 
who had charge of the music was bustling 
back and forth, carrying himself as though 
he were the most important thing in the 
world. 

But this was not the sight that greeted 
the Fairies when a little later, sitting on 
the broad backs of the great night moths, 
they floated down out of the Moonlight. 

Instead of the welcoming strains of the 
great orchestra, they heard loud lamenta¬ 
tions on every side, and as they looked 
about with amazement, instead of the 


130 GREY SPRITE, THE SILVER KNIGHT 

beautiful Glade filled with color and per¬ 
fume, there was everywhere desolation and 
destruction! 

Of the bunch of dancing Columbines 
not a blossom remained. Whole masses 
of violets lay dying, torn up rudely by their 
roots. The Lady-Slippers were gone, but 
two or three of their lovely blossoms lay 
withering upon the ground. The group 
of alabaster Indian Pipes, to whom South 
Wind had lost his heart, were lying 
crushed and broken, not one sculptured 
blossom remaining intact. 

While all around and overhead, the 
trees and bushes wept and wailed. 

“What does this mean?” demanded the 
Queen of the Fairies, as her gaze swept 
from place to place. All the trees and 
bushes and the little grasses answered with 
one voice, “The Gnomes.” 

Finally, quiet was restored, and she was 
told that just a little while before her ar¬ 
rival a boisterous band of Gnomes had 


DESTRUCTION OF THE WILD FLOWERS 131 

burst into the Glade, and, seeing the beau¬ 
tiful flowers, had rushed from one to an¬ 
other, pulling and tearing until not a 
blossom was left, and then they had rushed 
off pelting each other with those great 
armfuls of fainting blossoms they had rav¬ 
ished. 

“Which way did they go?” demanded 
Grey Sprite, who, as the Queen’s special 
knight, always attended her clothed in the 
Impenetrable Armor and carrying the In¬ 
vincible Sword. 

They all ran down Woodchuck’s hole, 
he was told, and had not come out again. 

Drawing his flashing blade, Grey Sprite 
without a moment’s hesitation plunged in 
after them. As he hurried along, he could 
hear sounds of shouting and rude play, 
and a moment later came upon perhaps a 
dozen Gnomes, taking their ease in Wood¬ 
chuck’s soft, warm nest. 

As Grey Sprite appeared, they sprang 
to their feet, and drawing their arrows to 


132 GREY SPRITE, THE SILVER KNIGHT 

the head, hurled a volley at the intruder. 
When they saw their missiles glance harm¬ 
lessly aside, and having nothing else with 
which to defend themselves, they fell upon 
their knees and begged piteously for their 
lives. 

“It is not for me to judge you,” cried the 
Fairy. “Follow me, and we will see what 
the Queen will say to you.” As they 
reached the entrance of the hole, Grey 
Sprite called to the Fairies, and at his di¬ 
rection, each Gnome, as he came out, was 
seized and bound to the stem of a bush. 

A Council was called, and the question 
raised as to what punishment should be 
given the marauders. 

Almost every one urged that they should 
be killed, for their crime was worthy of a 
death sentence, but when the Queen turned 
to Grey Sprite, he was troubled. 

“I hardly know what to say, Your Maj¬ 
esty. There is no question in my mind 
but that they should die, only it seems to 



Each Gnome was seized and bound to the stem of a 

BUSH. — Page 132. 













DESTRUCTION OF THE WILD FLOWERS 133 

me that we must look farther. Such an act 
will mean war at once between us and the 
Gnomes. Are we ready for this? Sup¬ 
pose they should prevail, think what would 
happen to the world if it came under their 
wicked spell! It seems to me that the 
best thing will be to imprison them for a 
while, and then do as seems best after more 
mature consideration.” 

The others demanded the instant execu¬ 
tion of the murderers, but before any de¬ 
cision could be reached, there arose a great 
clamor, and out through the enveloping 
band of Fairies burst all the Gnomes, then 
with shrill cries they vanished from sight 
like a flurry of dead leaves before a sud¬ 
den November gust. The grasses with 
which they had been bound were not 
strong enough to hold them, and they had 
all escaped! 

This question being so abruptly settled, 
the Fairies set themselves to binding up the 
wounds and comforting as best they could 


134 GREY SPRITE, THE SILVER KNIGHT 

the desolate flowers, but nothing could 
bring back for another whole year the 
lovely blossoms that already were withered 
and dead. 

South Wind came with a gentle rain and 
poured his cooling mist upon the feverish 
plants until he healed their gaping 
wounds, but nothing could bring back the 
happy laughter that was ringing through 
Wildwood such a short time ago, nor re¬ 
store the beauty of which it had been so 
proud. 

It was with heavy hearts that the Fairies 
sadly departed that night, and to Grey 
Sprite in particular came a great worry. 
He knew the story that the Gnomes would 
carry back, and could foresee trouble 
looming darkly ahead. But little did he 
realize how quickly it would come, or how 
deeply it would strike. 


CHAPTER V 


THE CAPTURE AND RESCUE OF WOODBINE 

/f ^ dear,” said Queen, one 
%/1 beautiful June morning, as 
J. ▼ JL Woodbine was putting the 
finishing touches to her mistress’s hair, 
“you look tired, and need a rest. You 
may take this whole day to yourself, and 
do not let me see that pretty face again 
until it is time for you to put me to bed,” 
and smiling at her devoted little Hand¬ 
maid, she joined the group of attendants 
who were waiting to accompany her upon 
a visit she was making to the hive of the 
Honey-Bees, to settle a grievance they had 
against Field Mouse. 

Left to her own devices, Woodbine sat 
down to plan what she would do with her 
unexpected freedom, and as she thought, a 

I3S 


136 GREY SPRITE, THE SILVER KNIGHT 

great longing came over her to visit her 
old friends again, to spend the day pic¬ 
nicking in the woods where she had form¬ 
erly lived. She had never been back since 
that eventful night when her beautiful de¬ 
sign, woven on Old Pine’s scraggly trunk, 
had won for them both the beauty prize, 
and they had been transformed into Fair¬ 
ies. To think was to act, and sending a 
messenger for Yellow Swallow-Tail, the 
Butterfly, she prepared for the trip. 

“I am going home to spend the day,” 
she said, as he came flying up, “and I want 
you to carry me there.” 

Swallow-Tail was very proud of being 
chosen for the trip, for Woodbine was a 
general favorite, and to have the chance of 
doing her a service was next best to doing 
one for the Queen herself. 

She did not tell any one where she was 
going, and mounting upon her great but¬ 
terfly’s back, gave herself up to the pleas¬ 
ure of the ride. 


CJ ?1 URE JXD RESCUE OF WOOVRISE 137 

Sh allow-Tail neeced no directions, for 

fce knew well the locality :o which thev 

• * 

h'ere going. me. remembered how. during 
me month or preparations when ever.* tree 
anc bush in V, ildwood was striving for the 
prize. this ana that one would coax him to 
ted them how thev locked and ask his ad- 
vice. for he was a great beau, and was sup¬ 
posed to know many secrets about beauty 
preparations. 

The rocking motion of his night was so 
soothing that Woodbine could scarce.v 

mm m 

keen her eves oren as thev floated alonz 
high up among the tree tops, but at last he 
cried. "Here we are." and gently touching 
the ground at the foot of Poplar-tree. al¬ 
lowed his passenger to alight. 

T hankin g for the ride. Woodbine 
said. "Do not wait for me. for there is no 
telling how long I shall want to stay, and 
I can hnd some one to carry me home.” 

do or about bis business dew due great 
butterfly, and he was so puffed up by due 










i 3 8 GREY SPRITE, THE SILVER KNIGHT 

honor he had received that he had to stop 
at every pretty bush and tell how Wood¬ 
bine, the favorite of the Fairy Queen, had 
chosen him out of all those she might have 
had to carry her back to Wildwood. 

You can imagine what a sensation the 
little Maid-of-Honor’s visit caused among 
her old acquaintances, and she was so 
happy and excited that before she realized 
it, the afternoon was well advanced. 

At last she came to where Miss Green 
Moss lived and sat herself down on the 
soft, cool cushion to chat awhile, but the 
temptation was too great, and curling up 
on the luxurious, fragrant couch, she said, 
“Green Moss, I am just going to take a 
little nap before I go home again.” 

Green Moss, proud beyond measure to 
have such a guest, said, “Sleep just as long 
as you like, and I will keep the bad bugs 
away from you.” 

So little Woodbine fell fast asleep and, 
of course, the time passed like magic. 


CAPTURE AND RESCUE OF WOODBINE 139 

Green Moss did not know whether to 
awaken her or not, but when it began to 
grow dark she decided to wait no longer, 
and coming softly to arouse her, found her 
gone. 

It seemed very strange that Woodbine 
should have left without a word of 
good-by, and Green Moss felt a little hurt 
at this lack of courtesy. 

“She might at least have said she was 
going,” thought Green Moss, “and of 
course I was glad to have her enjoy my 
nice, soft bed; but that is the way great 
folk act, I suppose,” and proceeded to 
make up the tumbled bed. 

Later that night a Page was sent to find 
out why Woodbine was not in her accus¬ 
tomed place, for it was her special charge 
to prepare the Queen’s hair when she re¬ 
tired at night. Presently he returned and 
reported that not only could he not find 
her, but that no one knew where she was. 

This was such an unusual thing that 


HO GREY SPRITE, THE SILVER KNIGHT 

more messengers were sent in search, and 
each one, as they returned, reported that 
Woodbine was not in the castle, and that 
no one had seen her since she set out in 
the early morning mounted upon Yellow 
Swallow-Tail. 

On hearing this, the Queen became 
greatly alarmed and sent for Grey Sprite. 
He had accompanied her on the journey, 
to the Honey-Bees, and had just laid aside 
his armor. Upon his arrival, the Queen 
told him of the strange disappearance of 
Woodbine and directed him to make up a 
searching party at once to find her. , 

“Hurry, Grey Sprite,” she called after 
him, “I shall not sleep a wink until you 
come back.” 

His first act was to call the Leader of the 
Fireflies to him, and he ordered him to pass 
the word along to the whole band to drop 
everything they were doing and hunt for 
Woodbine. 

In much less time than it takes to tell it, 


CAPTURE AND RESCUE OF WOODBINE 141 

thousands of little lights were flashing in 
every direction, and word was being 
spread to all the night moths and beetles 
whom they met to join the search. 

In the meantime Grey Sprite had sent 
for Brown Moth and had started on a 
search for Swallow-Tail, thinking that by 
chance he might get a clew through him. 

A friendly June Bug whom he met di¬ 
rected him to a thick bush where, snuggled 
close to the stalk, Yellow Swallow-Tail 
was deep in the mazes of Dream-Land. 
He had just started off on a wonderful 
voyage of discovery and on his back was 
seated the beautiful Woodbine, when he 
was rudely awakened by Grey Sprite’s 
vigorous shaking and explosive questions. 

Swallow-Tail was so upset and fright¬ 
ened that for several moments he could not 
get his wits to working, but at last he man¬ 
aged to tell what he knew, and away rushed 
Grey Sprite on his faithful moth for Wild¬ 
wood. 


142 GREY SPRITE, THE SILVER KNIGHT 

Everything was quiet, and the trees and 
bushes were all in deep slumber, lulled by 
the soft, fragrant Zephyrs. Each as they 
awakened told the same story. Their 
pretty little comrade of former times had 
spent the day there, and they had seen her 
going to and fro among her acquaint¬ 
ances, but just when she had left and 
where she had gone, no one seemed to 
know. 

Grey Sprite grew furious with anxiety, 
and summoning a band of Fireflies he 
ordered them to arouse every plant in the 
Glade and find out what they knew about 
it. As the reports began to come in, he 
listened with deepening concern, for each 
told exactly the same thing: they had seen 
her going about through the day but did 
not know what had become of her. 

At last one of the searchers came to 
Green Moss, and after hearing her story, 
flew quickly to Grey Sprite with his report. 
The latter hastened to Green Moss, who 


CAPTURE AND RESCUE OF WOODBINE 143 

told how Woodbine had gone to sleep 
on her soft bed. Green Moss had several 
times, stolen softly to Woodbine’s side to 
see that the Fairy was all right, but when 
she came to awaken Woodbine, she was 
gone, and Green Moss knew nothing 
about how or where she went, and none of 
her neighbors could tell anything about it. 

Question her as he might, Grey Sprite 
could get nothing more from Green Moss, 
and as day was beginning to dawn, he flew 
back to the Court to plan a general search 
of the whole country. 

Upon hearing his report, the Queen be¬ 
came very much alarmed and gave orders 
that every resource the Fairies possessed 
should be placed at Grey Sprite’s disposal. 

Fie called a conference at once, and 
soon an organized search had begun that 
would leave no blossom or leaf unques¬ 
tioned, no insect or bird overlooked. 
Everything in the woods and fields would 
be asked, for some eye must have seen her. 


H 4 GREY SPRITE, THE SILVER KNIGHT 

Some one must know what had become of 
her. 

Mounted upon Humming-Bird, the lit¬ 
tle Fairy kept in touch with everything, 
but always the same monotonous answer 
kept coming in. No one in all the world 
apparently had the slightest knowledge as 
to what had become of Woodbine. 

The anxious day wore to a close, and as 
the shades of night began to steal abroad, 
the weary birds and insects one by one 
gave over their fruitless search, which was 
at once resumed by the creatures of the 
night, but when the great sun again shone 
over the world the puzzling question was 
no nearer solution than at the beginning. 

Exhausted and overcome with grief, 
Grey Sprite had gone back to Wildwood, 
and throwing himself down upon the spot 
where Woodbine was last seen, gave way 
to violent grief. As he sobbed aloud, he 
was startled by an odd, little voice just be- 


CAPTURE AND RESCUE OF WOODBINE 145 

hind him, saying, “Why! Why! What 
on earth is the matter?” 

Grey Sprite turned quickly about, as¬ 
tonished that there should be one creature 
left in the world who did not know the 
trouble, without being told, and saw Black 
Mole, with his head sticking out of a hole 
in the ground close beside him, peering 
at him with his funny little eyes. 

“Have you not heard the terrible news?” 
Grey Sprite asked. 

The Mole shook his head, “I am just up 
from my digging,” said he, “and have 
heard nothing.” 

Whereupon Grey Sprite told him of the 
mysterious disappearance of Woodbine 
and the fruitless search over the whole 
world. 

“You say it was late in the afternoon of 
two days ago that she was last seen, and at 
this very spot?” demanded Black Mole, 
beginning to look very excited. 


146 GREY SPRITE, THE SILVER KNIGHT 

“Yes,” replied Grey Sprite. “Tell me, 
do you know anything about it?” 

“Perhaps that was what I saw,” said the 
Mole, scratching his ear thoughtfully. 
“You see I had just finished digging this 
very tunnel, and was coming out with my 
last load of dirt when I saw a band of 
Gnomes grouped about something just 
where you are sitting. They were all 
covered with the Mantle of Invisibility, 
but my eyes, you know, are different from 
those of other folks, and I could just dimly 
see them. I was so frightened that I did 
not try to find out what they were doing, 
but quietly backed into my hole without 
their hearing me, and I did not come out 
again till just now. I have been digging 
another tunnel in a new place, and that is 
why I have not heard anything about it 
before.” 

At his words, Grey Sprite sprang to his 
feet, his face turning grey as ashes. “Oh, 
what a fool I am, not to have guessed it!” 


CAPTURE AND RESCUE OF WOODBINE 147 

he cried. “The Gnomes! The Gnomes! 
Oh, they have stolen her!” and calling 
loudly for Humming-Bird, he dashed 
away to tell the Queen and consult with 
the Keeper of the Ancient Jewel. 

Consternation filled the hearts of all as 
they realized the terrible fate of Woodbine. 
Filled with fury at the loss of the Jewel, 
the Gnomes would show her no mercy, 
and sad laments were heard on all sides, 
for every one loved her. 

Grey Sprite lost no time, and closeting 
himself with Faithful Guardian went care¬ 
fully over the whole situation. 

“They have her, of course, in the Moun¬ 
tain,” said the latter, “and I am sure they 
have put her in a chamber that leads off 
from the treasure hall. I have known 
them to take prisoners in there many a 
time in the old days. How to get by the 
guards, and out again with her, that is the 
problem.” 

Grey Sprite sat lost in thought for some 


148 GREY SPRITE, THE SILVER KNIGHT 

little time. At length he said, ‘‘ Let us con¬ 
sult the Ancient Jewel, and see for sure if 
they have her in that room.” So kneeling 
before the Great Gem, he said, “O Star¬ 
light of the World, tell us, we pray thee, 
is Woodbine imprisoned in the chamber 
leading off from the treasure hall of the 
Gnomes?” 

Instantly the Jewel glowed with its 
wondrous light, and they knew without 
the shadow of a doubt that Faithful Guard¬ 
ian had been right, and that the poor lit¬ 
tle Fairy was hidden deep in the dark re¬ 
cesses of the Mountain of the Gnomes. 

“Flow can you ever get to her?” cried 
the Keeper of the Jewel, in despair. 

“I have a plan,” said Grey Sprite, “and 
I shall either succeed, or else they will have 
two Fairies to torture instead of one. 
Wish me success, Faithful Guardian,” he 
cried, leaping to his feet, and hastened 
away to prepare for his journey. 

At sight of his resolute face, the Queen 


CAPTURE AND RESCUE OF WOODBINE 149 

felt a ray of hope, and placing a hand on 
each of his shoulders, she said, “Bring her 
back with you, Grey Sprite, my Knight; 
I trust you.” 

Little did Woodbine dream, on that 
eventful afternoon when she lay down to 
nap on the fragrant bed of Green Moss, of 
the terrible calamity that was so near. 

The Gnomes had been unable to lift the 
great trap-door that had swung into place 
when Grey Sprite and Old Toad, bearing 
the Ancient Jewel, had retreated into the 
latter’s cave to escape the vengeance of 
Gold Stripe, and they had been ignorant of 
their loss until the news began to spread 
about the world that Grey Sprite, a Fairy 
of the Queen’s Court, had rescued the 
wondrous Jewel from its captivity in the 
Mountain of the Gnomes and had brought 
it safely to the Court of the .Fairy Queen, 
there to fulfill its mission in the world. 

The rage of the King of the Gnomes 


150 GREY SPRITE, THE SILVER KNIGHT 

had been most terrible. Each of the 
guards at the different entrances, whom 
Grey Sprite had eluded, was put to death 
with frightful tortures, and Gold Stripe 
was confined in a dark dungeon, deep 
down in the Mountain, awaiting his fate. 
Bands of Gnomes were sent, concealed by 
the Mantle of Invisibility, to scout in the 
realms of Fairy-Land and spy out ways 
and means of taking vengeance, and it was 
one of these who, coming upon Wood¬ 
bine sleeping in fancied security, had 
conceived the idea of spiriting her away 
to Gnome-Land. At the time they little 
dreamed of the importance of their cap¬ 
ture, but were bent only on doing as much 
mischief as they could. They had made 
the journey, riding upon the back of a 
black-and-grey Butcher-Bird, and he was 
awaiting them not far away. 

Deftly they slipped a gag into Wood¬ 
bine’s mouth and, bearing her aloft in 
their arms, despite her frantic struggles, 


CAPTURE AND RESCUE OF WOODBINE 151 

were soon beyond pursuit, flying back to 
Gnome-Land. Had it not been for the 
opportune arrival of Black Mole, no one 
would ever have known what had become 
of the Queen’s favorite. When they ar¬ 
rived at the Mountain, she was locked in 
a dark cell and left till the following day, 
with no place to lay her head, and with 
nothing to eat. 

Poor Woodbine was nearly frantic with 
fear, and when late on the following day, 
she heard footsteps approaching the door 
of her cell, she thought the end had come. 

Abruptly the door was thrown open and 
without a word, two of those frightful- 
looking Gnomes belonging to the band 
that stood leering, seized her by the wrists 
and, dragging her along, finally stopped 
at a door in the wall. Knocking, they 
were admitted into a large hall that was 
entirely cased with pure gold; seated on a 
wondrously carved throne of the same 
precious material sat the King of the 


152 GREY SPRITE, THE SILVER KNIGHT 

Gnomes, surrounded by his soldiers. 
Dragging her up in front of him and hurl¬ 
ing her upon the floor, the two stepped 
back and remained watching, their hands 
upon their swords. 

For several terrible minutes, the King 
looked at her in silence, and then rasped 
out, “Who are you?” 

“I am Woodbine, Handmaid of the 
Fairy Queen,” she faltered, not daring to 
move or to lift her eyes. 

At mention of her name, there was a stir 
of excitement among her soldiers, for the 
story of the prizes given that night in 
Wildwood had traveled far, and was 
known even to the Gnomes. 

A sudden interest shone in the sullen 
eyes of the King. 

“The Favorite of the Fairy Queen, and 
the friend of the robber who stole our 
Jewel,” he muttered to a wise-looking old 
Gnome who stood close beside the throne. 
“I think I can soon see our burglar friend 


CAPTURE AND RESCUE OF WOODBINE 153 

in our toils, and perhaps the wonderful 
Fairy Queen,” he sneered, “will be willing 
to pay a rare price for her two favorites. 
Take her away,” said he to the guards; and 
turning to the grizzled old Sage by his 
side, he growled, “Guard her with your 
life; she will prove to be more precious to 
us than all our gold,” and until the door 
closed between them, his gloating eyes 
never left her. Then calling the Captain 
of the Guards, he gave orders that the 
watchword for the hall of treasures, in 
which she was to be imprisoned should be 
changed to “Vengeance of the Gnomes.” 

Back in Fairy-Land, a brilliant 
Humming-Bird was flying swiftly through 
the air toward Wildwood, and on his back 
sat Grey Sprite, his gleaming armor hid¬ 
den from sight by a dark mantle and cap. 
They were seeking Black Mole, and as 
they alighted at the entrance to his tunnel, 
they perceived his funny little eyes blink¬ 
ing at them from the dark opening. 


154 GREY SPRITE, THE SILVER KNIGHT 

“Mole,” cried Grey Sprite, “how near 
the Mountain of the Gnomes do your tun¬ 
nels go?” 

“Almost to its base,” answered he 
promptly. 

“Woodbine is imprisoned in that terri¬ 
ble place,” continued Grey Sprite, “will 
you take me there?” 

“Gladly,” answered the Mole, “you can 
count on me to the utmost; but what are 
you going to do after you get there?” 

“I do not know yet,” said Grey Sprite, 
“but some way will be found, I am sure.” 

So presently, lying safely concealed in 
the thick fur on Black Mole’s back, the 
brave little Fairy was once more journey¬ 
ing back towards the Mountain of the 
Gnomes—and into peril; but Woodbine 
was a prisoner, perhaps suffering terrible 
tortures there, and no danger was great 
enough to prevent the Queen’s Knight 
from attempting her rescue. 

There was a great difference in the rate 


CAPTURE AND RESCUE OF WOODBINE 155 

of speed at which he was traveling com¬ 
pared with that to which Humming-Bird 
had accustomed him, but he bore the slow 
progress with the best patience he could, 
and tried to plan out his steps after he had 
reached the Mountain. 

At length, after what seemed an eternity, 
he could see the light growing brighter 
and brighter as they neared the entrance 
to the tunnel, but cautious Black Mole 
said, “Now you stay hidden here while I 
look round a bit, and see how the land lies. 
The Gnomes are accustomed to seeing me 
come out anywhere, and will not suspect.” 

He was gone so long that Grey Sprite 
was on the point of venturing out to see 
what had become of him, when he heard 
the sound of hurrying feet, and a moment 
later Black Mole sank down beside him, 
panting heavily. It was some time before 
he could get breath enough to speak. 

“Lucky for you that you stayed hid,” he 
finally gasped. “This whole country is 


156 GREY SPRITE, THE SILVER KNIGHT 

filled with bands of armed Gnomes watch¬ 
ing every avenue. They are evidently ex¬ 
pecting you, and you would have been 
taken at once. I walked about, pretend¬ 
ing to be looking for the location of a new 
tunnel, and they paid no attention to me. 
What in the world can you do now?” and 
the Mole settled back on his haunches, and 
gazed at his friend in the greatest anxiety. 

“I have thought of a plan,” said Grey 
Sprite. “Do you suppose you can find 
Chipmunk?” 

“I am very sure I can,” returned Black 
Mole, “he lives not far from here.” 

So away started the Mole again, and 
after a little while came back alone. 

“I found him,” he said, “and have told 
him all about it. He is anxious to help, 
for the Gnomes spoil his nuts whenever 
they find them. They bore holes in them, 
and put in maggots. When Chipmunk 
comes later to have a meal, he finds them 
all spoiled. We thought it best not to 


CAPTURE AND RESCUE OF WOODBINE 157 

come together for fear the Gnomes might 
suspect something. Ah, here he comes 
now,” and a moment later Chipmunk 
snuggled down beside them. 

Grey Sprite welcomed him, and then 
told him all about the case. 

“Do you suppose,” asked he, “that you 
could carry me, so that I would not be seen, 
in the pocket on the side of your mouth?” 

“Surely I can,” replied Chipmunk, with 
a waggish look at Black Mole, “that’s the 
way I carry nuts,” and he giggled all over. 
Nothing was ever serious enough to sup¬ 
press Chipmunk entirely. 

“Good,” said Grey Sprite. “Now this 
is my plan. You will carry me, concealed 
in your pouch, to a spot I shall show you 
up on the Mountain side, and there bury 
me in the ground just as you do your nuts, 
except that you will cover me with leaves. 
I will attend to the rest.” 

Black Mole looked on with great inter¬ 
est as Chipmunk stowed the little Fairy 


158 GREY SPRITE, THE SILVER KNIGHT 

away in his roomy pouch, and clapped his 
paws in approval. “They will never sus¬ 
pect you in the world,” he declared. 

Out from the tunnel scampered the 
friendly Chipmunk, dodging about here 
and there as though concerned only with 
his usual daily toil, and Grey Sprite, peer¬ 
ing out through the half-opened mouth, 
could see hundreds of Gnomes heavily 
armed and scattered in bands all about the 
Mountain. He realized how little chance 
he would have had should he have tried 
any other method of approach, and trem¬ 
bled with apprehension when once Chip¬ 
munk audaciously pounced upon a nut 
close beside one of the band, but they paid 
no attention to him, save that the leader 
jeeringly called after him, “Hide it safely, 
or we will put a boarder in it for you,” 
and Chipmunk, as though in sudden 
panic, fled up the Mountain-side, his tail 
straight up in the air. 

“Stop by that rock just ahead,” whis- 


CAPTURE AND RESCUE OF WOODBINE 159 

pered Grey Sprite, “and dig a shallow hole. 
Now, lay me in it, and cover me all over 
with leaves. Come back again every hour 
as though to bury your nuts, and if I suc¬ 
ceed, you will find me here waiting for 
you with Woodbine. Then carry us both 
back to Black Mole. I don’t know how 
long I shall be, but keep a good lookout 
for us.” 

So Chipmunk did as he was told, and 
then scampered away to find some more 
nuts, but he kept an anxious eye cocked in 
the direction of his friend, for he was ter¬ 
ribly worried lest some meddlesome 
Gnome should take it into his head to dig 
into his store and spoil all their plans. 

Everything went well, however, and as 
it began to grow dark, Grey Sprite whis¬ 
pered to Chipmunk to go and rest for the 
night, but to be on hand first thing in the 
morning. 

The fissure in the mountain side through 
which he and Blind Toad had made their 


160 GREY SPRITE, THE SILVER KNIGHT 

escape on a former occasion was not far 
from where he was buried, and he believed 
that, except to him and his former com¬ 
panion, it was known to none. He did 
not think it wise even to allow Chipmunk 
to learn of its whereabouts, and the latter 
went away with no knowledge of Grey 
Sprite’s further plans. 

Soon all was dark and quiet. In the dis¬ 
tance, from time to time, he could hear 
Whip-poor-will, and once Great Owl’s 
ceaseless query echoed from hill to hill. 
Although they could give him no assist¬ 
ance, yet it comforted him to hear their 
friendly voices, helped to steady his nerves 
for the desperate venture he was about to 
make, for he had determined to enter again 
the treasure hall of the Gnomes, and this 
time he would have no friendly password 
to vouch for him. 

When he thought it safe to move, he 
carefully pushed aside the leaves which 
covered him, and looked about. There 


CAPTURE AND RESCUE OF WOODBINE 161 

was no moon, and it was so dark that he 
could see nothing, but he knew that the 
Gnomes could see, and so did not venture 
to stand up. Wriggling along on his 
stomach like a snake, stopping every little 
while to listen, he soon reached the stone 
with which he had formerly closed the 
fissure that led into the Mountain. Ap¬ 
parently it had not been disturbed since 
he had placed it there, and after one more 
careful survey, he noiselesssly pushed it to 
one side and slipped within. Reaching 
up with both hands, he worked it back into 
the same position as it was before, and 
turning, began to grope his way up the 
winding path. 

His attention was immediately attracted 
by the sound of blows—ringing sounds, 
like metal striking against rock—and he 
knew that it must be the Gnomes at work 
all through the Mountain digging their 
gold. With their sharp ears he knew they 
could at once detect any strange sound, 


162 GREY SPRITE , THE SILVER KNIGHT 

and an investigation would mean disaster 
for his plans. So with renewed caution, he 
stole forward, feeling his way before him 
with cautious hand and foot. 

The traveling was vastly more difficult, 
for this time there was no friendly light 
from the Ancient Jewel to guide him— 
only the sense of touch. Presently he 
came to a division in the path, and he 
stopped, perplexed as to which turn to 
take. Deciding upon that to the right, he 
again slowly advanced and had just begun 
to feel a sense of relief when his out¬ 
stretched hand passed into vacancy, and he 
barely caught himself from falling. 

Leaning forward, he tried vainly to 
pierce the gloom. Had he reached the 
cave of Old Toad? If so, he had only to 
jump down a few feet and stand on its 
floor. Grey Sprite had just decided to 
make the attempt when instinctive caution 
made him pause, and groping about until 
he found a tiny pebble he cast it into the 


CAPTURE AND RESCUE OF WOODBINE 163 

darkness before him, listening for the 
sound of its fall. A second past, and then 
faintly in the distance he heard it strike; 
he drew back sick for the moment at the 
thought. Suppose he had jumped! 

Evidently he had selected the wrong 
passage. Retracing his steps, he groped 
his way back to where the path had di¬ 
vided, and taking the other division, 
pushed slowly ahead once more. 

Soon he came to a rock that he remem¬ 
bered moving on his previous trip, and he 
went ahead with renewed confidence. 

When he again felt an edge to the wall, 
he tested the darkness as before, and im¬ 
mediately hearing the pebble strike on the 
floor, he jumped lightly down and stood 
once more in the retreat of Old Toad. 

For some little time he rested and lis¬ 
tened for sounds in the room above him. 
Hearing nothing, he prepared for action 
by taking off his belt and scabbard, and 
holding the naked sword in one hand, care- 


164 GREY SPRITE, THE SILVER KNIGHT 

fully pushed on the spring that Faithful 
Guardian had described to him. 

At once the heavy stone door in the roof 
began noiselessly to swing up, and check¬ 
ing it as soon as there was room for him to 
crawl out, he looked eagerly into the great 
hall. 

Gone was the wonderful, mellow light 
that had formerly illumined it. The end 
where he stood was in deep gloom, but at 
the far entrance opposite, was light, and 
by it he could make out a band of ten 
Gnomes, all facing the door. 

Gathering the dark concealing mantle 
closely about him, Grey Sprite silently 
climbed out into the hall and stole towards 
them. Step by step he advanced until he 
was very close, then creeping behind a 
great bag of gold, he crouched, waiting to 
see what would turn up, and hoping to 
learn where Woodbine was hid. 

A long time passed, the Gnomes never 
moved a step, but stood with their weapons 


CAPTURE AND RESCUE OF WOODBINE 165 

ready, watching with utmost vigilance the 
great door that closed the entrance. 

Presently Grey Sprite saw them stiffen 
to more acute attention, and the bows came 
up into position. 

Two knocks, followed shortly after by 
three short ones, sounded on the door. 

At once the leader of the band threw it 
open, and like one voice the horrid scream 
rang out, that, even hidden as he was, sent 
cold shivers running down Grey Sprite’s 
back. “The Password!” they cried, and 
two attendants standing there with food 
and drink in their hands, answered, “Ven¬ 
geance!” 

Springing in front of the band and 
swinging his sword high, the Leader cried, 
“Of whom?” “The Gnomes,” they an¬ 
swered. 

At the words, the weapons were low¬ 
ered, and placing himself before them, the 
Leader passed across the hall. Then 
knocking twice upon a certain spot on the 


166 GREY SPRITE, THE SILVER KNIGHT 

wall, a door swung open noiselessly, and 
as silently shut behind them as the two at¬ 
tendants passed within. The Leader 
never stirred until after a short time it 
again swung open, when he escorted the 
servants back, and passing them into the 
outer hall closed and fastened the door. 

“Was there ever such fortune!” thought 
Grey Sprite. He had not only the loca¬ 
tion of the door which he felt sure led 
to the room where Woodbine was impris¬ 
oned, but also the signal that opened it. 
Now was the time for action, and, casting 
aside the dark cloak, he passed with one 
leap through the band and stood facing 
them, his back to the door. 

For a moment they stared in amaze¬ 
ment; then against the impenetrable Ar¬ 
mor in which he was clothed rang ten ar¬ 
rows. When they saw these glance harm¬ 
lessly aside, they drew their swords, and 
rushed upon him. 

But they had “reckoned without their 


CAPTURE AND RESCUE OF WOODBINE 167 

host,” for their ten swords were instantly 
engaged by a silvery gleam of lightning as 
the Invincible Sword flashed and played 
about them. At every thrust, a Gnome 
fell lifeless to the floor. The fight was 
won and over before it had hardly started, 
and Grey Sprite could scarcely believe his 
senses as he gazed in amazement at the 
silent forms piled in a grotesque heap be¬ 
fore him. 

Not a sound had been uttered during the 
engagement, and placing his ear to the 
door, he listened fearfully for signs of dis¬ 
covery. All was as silent as the grave. 

Reassured, he sped across the hall, and 
knocked twice upon the concealed door. 
As before, it swung open silently and as 
he leaped within, closed tightly behind 
him. He paid little heed to this, however, 
for his attention was riveted upon a sight 
that for a moment stiffened him in aston¬ 
ishment. There, facing him, with his 
baleful eyes gleaming in sudden hatred, 


168 GREY SPRITE, THE SILVER KNIGHT 

and the great, poisonous mouth working 
ferociously, stood his old enemy, Gold 
Stripe, poised and ready to spring. 

“Guard her with your life!” was the 
command of the King of the Gnomes, 
when he placed Woodbine in charge of 
his old Councilor, and the latter, well 
knowing the pitiless nature of his Master, 
followed his prisoner and her guards with 
a troubled mind. 

Never before had such a beautiful crea¬ 
ture as Woodbine been seen in the Moun¬ 
tain, and the wily old Councilor, deeply 
versed in the promptings of the heart, dis¬ 
trusted the guards upon whom he would 
have to depend. To give up all his own 
time to watch over her was out of the ques¬ 
tion, and with his life at stake, he hesitated 
to trust the alternative. Suddenly he 
thought of a prisoner deep down in the 
dungeons of the Mountain awaiting death 
from torture—Gold Stripe, the Spider, 
who betrayed the secret of the Gnomes. 


CAPTURE AND RESCUE OF WOODBINE 169 

With pardon awaiting his faithful per¬ 
formance of duty, who else could be so 
trustworthy, especially when the prisoner 
whom he would have to watch was beloved 
by his bitter and hated enemy, Grey 
Sprite? 

So presently a door was opened in a 
dark, cold dungeon, and the cringing 
spider saw before him the soldiers who 
he supposed had come to take him to his 
death. No word was spoken, but he was 
jostled along until at length he stood be¬ 
fore Old Councilor. 

The latter looked scornfully at him for 
several minutes, then “Traitor, what price 
will you pay for your life?” he suddenly 
demanded. “Alas, I have nothing of 
value to offer,” said Gold Stripe, who 
thought this only meant that his death 
sentence was coming. 

At his gesture, the Guards withdrew, 
and Old Councilor, closing the door, 
said, “You are worthy of nothing but the 


170 GREY SPRITE, THE SILVER KNIGHT 

crudest death, and until now this was de¬ 
creed against you. But a circumstance 
has arisen which inclines me to offer you a 
chance for your life.” 

At this ray of hope, Gold Stripe sank to 
the floor almost fainting, while Old Coun¬ 
cilor explained about the capture of 
Woodbine and the need of a faithful jailor. 
He also enlarged upon the certainty of 
Grey Sprite’s capture, for none could 
doubt that he would undertake a rescue, 
which would speedily land him in their 
hands. 

Hate urging him on, more than the 
promise even of life, brought the great 
Spider to his feet in eager assurance of his 
fidelity, and so it happened that after seek¬ 
ing his enemy vainly over all the world, 
Grey Sprite should unexpectedly meet h im 
here, the jailor of his beloved Woodbine. 

For a moment neither stirred, then, like 
a flash, Grey Sprite sprang at him, the In¬ 
vincible Sword gleaming in his hand. 


CAPTURE AND RESCUE OF WOODBINE 171 

Had it been a Gnome who faced him, 
the fight would have lasted but a second, 
but Gold Stripe was the craftiest of the 
crafty, and swiftly as Grey Sprite leaped, 
the great spider was even swifter, and 
jumping high over his head, threw a noose 
of sticky web at him. 

Avoiding it, Grey Sprite rushed in 
again, only to find the spider out of reach 
and casting off web in every direction. 
Some of the ends caught on the wall, each 
a treacherous snare, and rushing swiftly 
about, warily evading every attack, Gold 
Stripe began to fill the room with his 
sticky trap. 

Once the Spider ventured too close, and 
like a lightning stroke the sword lopped 
off one of his legs. This did not seem to 
trouble him very much, but he took good 
care not to get so near again. 

The pace was beginning to tell fearfully 
upon Grey Sprite, weighted as he was with 
his armor, and as his breath began to come 


172 GREY SPRITE, THE SILVER KNIGHT 

in great, sobbing gasps he realized that 
he must husband his strength. So he 
backed cautiously against the wall, the 
Invincible Sword holding the exulting 
enemy at bay. 

By this time Gold Stripe had nearly 
filled the room with his deadly web, and 
making a sudden dash at Grey Sprite 
tempted the latter to attack again. As he 
did so, he felt a noose tighten about his 
ankle, and before he could release it, was 
jerked into the air and fell heavily upon 
the floor his sword flying from his hand. 

Like a flash, Gold Stripe was upon him, 
biting ferociously, but the Impenetrable 
Armor was more than a match for his 
teeth, and realizing that he could not harm 
his enemy in that manner, he raised the 
poor little Fairy high in his hairy arms to 
dash him to death, when suddenly he col¬ 
lapsed, and with a great shudder sank 
upon the floor. 

Grey Sprite, half stunned by his fall, 


CAPTURE AND RESCUE OF WOODBINE 173 

staggered dizzily to his feet. His first 
thought was to regain his sword, and as 
his gaze swept the room, he beheld Wood¬ 
bine standing behind them, pale and trem¬ 
bling like a leaf. 

Not realizing that the fight was over, he 
looked for his sword, but could see it no¬ 
where. “My sword, oh, where is my 
sword?” he cried, in an agony of despair. 

Woodbine, unable to speak, could only 
point to the dead Spider. There driven 
to the hilt in his great body rested the In¬ 
vincible Sword. 

At the first sound of the combat, she had 
stolen to the door, and fascinated with 
horror had watched the deadly fight. As 
Grey Sprite fell, the blade flying across 
the room had dropped at her feet. In¬ 
stantly she had snatched it up and, as Gold 
Stripe tensed all his great muscles to dash 
Grey Sprite upon the stony floor, she had 
driven it with her utmost strength into the 
mighty exposed back, and the Invincible 


174 GREY SPRITE, THE SILVER KNIGHT 

Sword had found once more its favorite 
resting-place: the heart of its foe. 

“You have saved us!” cried Grey Sprite, 
“Oh you plucky little Fairy!” and for sev¬ 
eral blissful moments all the Gnomes in 
the Mountain could have hammered at 
the door unheard. 

“I knew you would come,” said Wood¬ 
bine. “Had it not been for that, I should 
have died from fright.” 

“This will never do,” said Grey Sprite, 
for their danger was too real to be long 
forgotten. “We must get out of here just 
as quickly as we possibly can. Hurry 
over to that trap-door at the end of the 
Hall, and wait for me; I shall not be long.” 

“Oh, do not leave me!” cried Woodbine, 
her fears returning at the thought of being 
left alone again in that terrible place. 

“Remember,” said Grey Sprite; “the 
Gnomes must never know, if I can prevent 
it, how I got into this place. I am going 
to leave the outer door ajar, and they will 


CAPTURE AND RESCUE OF WOODBINE 175 

think we escaped through that entrance. 
There is no danger where you are going.” 

Without another word, Woodbine has¬ 
tened toward the trap-door, while Grey 
Sprite, tiptoeing to the door, listened in¬ 
tently for several minutes. Convinced at 
last that no one was hiding behind, he 
opened it and leaving it ajar, sped back 
to the entrance of the abode of Old Toad. 

Jumping in, he swung Woodbine 
lightly to the floor, while, yielding to his 
touch, the heavy slab settled back into its 
place. 

The sudden darkness was intense, but 
the sound of the steady tap, tap, tap, all 
over the Mountain was reassuring, and 
Grey Sprite knew that as yet no alarm had 
been sent out. 

Taking Woodbine by the hand, he 
guided her carefully to the crevice in the 
wall. “Hold fast to my belt,” he said, 
“and make no noise, for the least sound 
will be heard.” 


176 GREY SPRITE, THE SILVER KNIGHT 

With infinite caution they felt their way 
along the rough and twisting passage, and 
were about half-way out, when the sounds 
of digging suddenly ceased, and Grey 
Sprite knew that the ghastly heap at the 
entrance to the door had been discovered. 
But of this he said not a word to Wood¬ 
bine. 

It was with many misgivings that they 
approached the outer world. Suppose 
something had happened to Chipmunk. 
How could they ever hope to win through 
the hordes of Gnomes who would be 
watching with increased vigilance? 

When they reached the stone at the en¬ 
trance, they listened for a long time for 
sounds of danger, but at length, feeling 
quite sure that none of their enemies were 
about, Grey Sprite pushed aside the stone, 
and crawling out, looked fearfully in 
every direction. 

It was still night and he could see noth¬ 
ing. Helping Woodbine out, he care- 


CAPTURE AND RESCUE OF WOODBINE 177 

fully replaced the stone, removing every 
mark and trace of their presence. 

The next thing to do was to bury them¬ 
selves with leaves in the hole that Chip¬ 
munk had dug for them, and they had just 
begun to crawl towards it when each was 
suddenly seized by a great foot and carried 
swiftly up into a tall tree. 

“Who! Who!” cried Great Owl, for it 
was he who had captured them, “I wonder 
what these things are, and if they are good 
to eat?” 

“Greetings, Great Owl,” cried Grey 
Sprite joyously, as he recognized his old 
friend, “your memory is certainly getting 
poor.” 

“Of all things,” cried the great bird in 
amazement, “Old Pine, as I live.” 

“Yes, and Miss Woodbine, too, if you 
please,” cried the other little Fairy. 

In a few words, Grey Sprite told his 
story, and Great Owl chuckled till his 
sides shook. 


178 GREY SPRITE, THE SILVER KNIGHT 

“Oh, what a joke,” he kept repeating 
over and over again. 

The Fairies could not see any joke, but 
they were well contented to be with their 
friend, Great Owl, high up in the great 
tree. 

At last when they could settle down to 
business again, Grey Sprite asked his 
friend, Great Owl, if he could carry them 
back to the Court. 

“I am very sorry,” he answered, “but I 
have a very important engagement that 
will prevent my going back all the way. 
But I will see you safely as far as Black 
Mole, and I can pass the news along to 
Chipmunk.” 

So safely buried from sight in the thick, 
soft feathers on Great Owl’s back, they 
were wafted through the night, and pres¬ 
ently, having bidden farewell to their 
preserver, they peered into the dark tunnel 
which Black Mole had dug, and softly 
called his name. 



Great Owl chuckled until his sides shook.— Page 111 















CAPTURE AND RESCUE OF WOODBINE 179 

Immediately they heard a scratching, 
out popped the sharp little nose, and they 
saw his tiny eyes blinking at them. 
“Well, I do declare! Well, I do declare!” 
was all he could say, as he bustled round 
and round them. 

“All right, Black Mole,” laughed Grey 
Sprite, “but let us be going; I shall not 
feel safe until I see the sun shining at the 
Fairy Court.” 

“Get right up on my back then,” re¬ 
turned the Mole, “and hang on tight. I 
am going to break my speed limit,” and 
away he tore at what was for him a furious 
pace. 

Words cannot describe the wild enthu¬ 
siasm that greeted our adventurers, when, 
at length, seated upon Humming-Bird’s 
gleaming back, they arrived at the won¬ 
derful castle where the Fairy Queen lived 
in state, and which was now the abode of 
the Ancient Jewel. From there the news 
was wafted in every direction by the 


180 GREY SPRITE, THE SILVER KNIGHT 

Zephyrs, and the good tidings were spread 
from one to another until all the world 
knew that Woodbine, the well-beloved 
Handmaid of the Fairy Queen, had been 
rescued from the Gnomes by Grey Sprite. 

Wise ones shook their heads in anxiety, 
for by now the news must have traveled to 
the Gnomes themselves, and their vindic¬ 
tive and terrible natures were well known. 

At the Court, these misgivings were 
shared only by Grey Sprite himself and 
Faithful Guardian, as they went carefully 
over the whole story of the rescue, for to 
him alone had Grey Sprite revealed the 
manner in which the rescue had been ac¬ 
complished. 

Black Mole and Chipmunk were sum¬ 
moned to Court, and were duly rewarded 
for their share in the adventure, both be¬ 
ing taken under the Fairy Queen’s special 
protection and changed into Fairies, for 
they could never go back to their former 


CAPTURE'AND RESCUE OF WOODBINE 181 

lives again, on account of the Gnomes. 

To all the race of Chipmunks was 
given, in honor of the event, some beauti¬ 
ful stripes on their backs, and to the Moles 
a wonderful star, to be worn forever on 
their noses; and it was made soft and flex¬ 
ible so as not to interfere with their dig¬ 
ging. Great Owl was also remembered, 
but he disdained the thought of being 
afraid of the Gnomes, and only asked that 
he might have a fine tuft of feathers like 
ears to wear on each side of his head. 

The Fairies, in their intoxication of 
joy, would have given themselves up to 
endless revels, but Grey Sprite realized too 
well the vindictive nature of their enemies, 
and knew that even now the Gnomes were 
plotting some terrible vengeance. 

So he requested an audience with the 
Queen and begged that she call a council 
of war at once. “For,” said he, “and 
Faithful Guardian agrees with me, there 


182 GREY SPRITE, THE SILVER KNIGHT 

will be no more peace and safety in the 
world until the power of the Gnomes is 
forever broken.” 

The council was held in the great hall 
of the Castle, and it was decided to wage 
a war to the death with the Gnomes, and 
Grey Sprite, being chosen commander, 
stood up in his place and cried, “The 
Gnomes must be destroyed!” When the 
cheers had subsided, he added, “And we 
will strike the first blow.” 

Thus began the terrible war between the 
Fairies and the Gnomes, but I will tell you 
of that some other time. 


CHAPTER VI 


THE WAR OF THE FAIRIES AND THE 

GNOMES 


T O the four corners of the earth on 
the wings of the Winds went the 
call to the colors for all loyal 
Fairies, and just as tiny rills merge into 
streams and they in turn increase to rivers, 
so from every direction came the great 
army of Fairies to gather about the Castle 
where dwelt the Queen. 

Everywhere were scenes of bustle and 
confusion. The smoke from a thousand 
forges darkened the air, and from morn¬ 
ing till night the steady clank, clank, clank 
of hammers was heard, as the Smiths 
toiled incessantly, forging heads for ar¬ 
rows and lances and sharp swords. 

Grey Sprite was busy all day and far 

183 


184 GREY SPRITE, THE SILVER KNIGHT 

into the night. The Fairies had to be or¬ 
ganized into easily handled units, and 
there was constant drilling on the level 
plain in front of the Castle. Then there 
was the important question as to food for 
such an army. 

This latter problem was placed in the 
hands of the Queen of the Ants, and for 
miles around, millions of these little crea¬ 
tures were scouring and combing the 
country, while as a result of their efforts an 
immense heap of food began to pile up. 

The Queen of the Bees was also called 
upon, and for a while all her subjects 
devoted their time to collecting honey and 
bread to swell the commissary. 

One of the important questions that 
came up for discussion was transportation, 
and finally, as it happened to be in the late 
summer that these events were transpiring, 
it was decided to engage the Blackbirds 
(who were everywhere assembling in 
countless numbers for their fall moving) 


THE WAR OF FAIRIES AND GNOMES 185 

I 

to carry the army to Gnome-Land. It 
was also decided to make use of the big, 
strong crows to bear the supplies that 
would be needed. 

One fine morning, Grey Sprite, stand¬ 
ing on the central tower of the Castle, 
pulled the cords that held it, and out to the 
breeze floated the jeweled standard of the 
Fairy Queen! 

As the banner gave itself to the caress¬ 
ing wind, up from the plain below, with a 
roar of beating wings that sounded like 
thunder rose the first division of the Black¬ 
birds, and on each bird sat two Fairies, the 
points of their weapons twinkling like 
stars. This was followed, as soon as it 
was well under way, by a second; and they 

by a third; and so on until all were in the 

» 

air, flying swiftly and steadily towards the 
west—and Gnome-Land. Next, the great 
caravan of Crows took flight, following 
close upon their lighter brothers. The 
army was off, and who had wisdom to 


186 GREY SPRITE, THE SILVER KNIGHT 

foretell the outcome of the strife to be! 

Standing apart from the others, the 
Queen, Woodbine, and Grey Sprite 
watched the departure with beating hearts, 
and a proud look shone in the Queen’s 
eyes as she saw the great array of loyal 
subjects that had rushed to her aid. 

There was no pride in Woodbine’s eyes, 
however, and they were swollen and red 
from weeping, for she well realized the 
terrible conflict that was coming. She 
had seen enough of the Gnomes during 
her stay at the Mountain to fill her with 
dread of their power and cunning. 

Upon Grey’s Sprite’s helmet was wound 
a bright scarf, and as the Queen looked at 
it, she smiled tenderly upon her two fa¬ 
vorites, and remarking that she had for¬ 
gotten to ask her Dressmaker something, 
passed over to where the rest of the Castle 
defenders were watching, and left them 
alone. 

“Dry those tears, Woodbine,” said Grey 


THE WAR OF FAIRIES AND GNOMES 187 

Sprite, “we are all coming back in tri¬ 
umph, and never again will there be any¬ 
thing to make us afraid.” 

“I know the Ancient Jewel says you will 
be successful, but it also says that you will 
be changed, and I fear something terrible 
is going to happen to you.” 

“Nothing can happen to one who is 
loved by such as you,” said he tenderly. 
“Keep up a brave heart, and soon you will 
see us coming back in triumph to you.” 

With a last farewell to his friends and 
a strict order to the Captain of the Guards 
to keep ceaseless watch, Grey Sprite 
seated himself upon Humming-Bird, and 
dashed away to take his place at the head 
of the great, black cloud that was rapidly 
vanishing towards the west. 

Day by day they flew steadily and 
swiftly. Early in the afternoon the Birds 
would alight, and when their burdens 
were removed, would stream away in all 
directions, foraging for their supper while 


188 GREY SPRITE, THE SILVER KNIGHT 

the Fairies, making camp, would prepare 
for their night’s rest. 

Before the sun arose could be heard the 
roar of wings and the hoarse cries of the 
Blackbirds as again they hurried off to get 
the meal that must last them through the 
day’s journey. Then by early forenoon 
the great multitude would be on its way 
again, and the shadow that they would cast 
on the landscape, as for hours they passed 
by high in the heavens, made people think 
that night was coming. 

They made such rapid progress that 
soon they were approaching the Land of 
the Gnomes, and one afternoon, just as 
they were beginning to think about the 
night’s camp, Grey Sprite saw in the dis¬ 
tance the Mountain of his adventures. 

That night he held a great council of 
war and arranged his plans. Out of the 
bravest of his warriors he selected a spe¬ 
cial band of about 500 with whom he in¬ 
tended, provided the way were still open, 


THE WAR OF FAIRIES AND GNOMES 189 

to enter the Mountain by the crevice that 
the earthquake had made, and then, if suc¬ 
cessful, to hold the treasure hall until 
enough of his forces could get in to take 
the place. The only other way, unless the 
Gnomes should come out and fight in the 
open, would be to starve them out, and no 
one could say how large a store of pro¬ 
visions they might have, nor how long it 
might take. 

As soon as possible the next morning, 
the start was made. As they flew swiftly 
forward, the Mountain loomed greater 
and greater, until at length it reared its 
lofty head directly before them. Darting 
down to where the brook came tumbling 
out from its side, Humming-Bird alighted, 
and round about him in a vast circle set¬ 
tled the Blackbirds. 

As they had approached the Mountain, 
Grey Sprite and Humming-Bird had 
watched narrowly for bands of Gnomes, 
but not a single one had they seen. Ap- 


igo GREY SPRITE, THE SILVER KNIGHT 

✓ 

parently the advance of the Fairies had 
not been discovered. 

Leaving the General, whom he had 
chosen to take command in his absence, 
to arrange the camp and prepare for the 
siege should it become necessary, Grey 
Sprite with his chosen band made his way 
quickly to the crevice in the Mountain 
side. 

He found the rock that covered it un¬ 
disturbed, and pushing it aside, slipped 
within, followed by a large number of 
Fireflies whom he had brought to light the 
unfamiliar path for his soldiers. 

Pushing ahead alone with his Torch- 
bearers, he was soon in the familiar cave 
of Blind Toad, and reaching way back to 
the entrance was a bright light at every 
turn in the path. 

With their armor covered by heavy 
cloaks to deaden the noise of their prog¬ 
ress, the 500 crept stealthily along until 


THE IVAR OF FAIRIES AND GNOMES 191 

the room was filled with armed soldiers of 
the Queen. 

Before any of them had arrived, Grey 
Sprite had satisfied himself, as far as he 
could by listening, that the great hall was 
empty. He pushed upon the spring. 
The massive stone rose noiselessly above 
them, and the Fairies as silently drew 
themselves up on to the floor. 

All was very dark except down by the 
door where shone a dim light, and stealing 
towards it, they saw a guard sound asleep 
at his post. 

A moment later when he awoke, he 
found himself a prisoner, and the threaten¬ 
ing swords dispelled any desire that he 
may have had to make an outcry. 

“Lead me to your King,” said Grey 
Sprite sternly, “and I will spare your life.” 

Nearly fainting from fear, the poor 
Gnome could only obey, and supported on 
each side by a sturdy Fairy, he guided them 


192 GREY SPRITE, THE SILVER KNIGHT 

through the maze of passages until at 
length they came to a door. 

Inside could be heard the sound of loud 
voices in a fierce wrangle, and cautiously 
opening the door a crack, Grey Sprite 
peeked through. 

There, seated on his golden throne, sat 
the King of the Gnomes, in all his gran¬ 
deur. From the top of the wondrously 
wrought crown upon his head gleamed 
the dull light of a great uncut emerald. 
The room was half filled with what ap¬ 
peared to be Nobles, judging from their 
rich garments. 

As Grey Sprite listened, he heard the 
King say, “Now since we have settled the 
division of the land and you are all agreed, 
we will dispose of the prisoners we shall 
take. First of all the Fairy Queen; I 
claim her as mine; also her Flandmaid, 
Woodbine.” 

Upon this there arose a loud dispute, for 
the others seemed to think that the Queen 


THE WAR OF FAIRIES AND GNOMES 193 

was enough for their King to have, and 
each of them was determined to have 
Woodbine, whose fame for beauty had 
spread far and wide. 

As Grey Sprite caught the nature of 
the discussion, his face flamed with fury, 
and throwing wide the door, he cried with 
a terrible voice, “And I will have you all!” 

Unnerved by the fierce cry and the 
gleaming swords that instantly filled the 
room, the Nobles made no resistance and 
were quickly secured, while Grey Sprite, 
advancing upon the King, demanded that 
he give himself up at once, along with his 
whole army. 

For a moment the King stared at the ap¬ 
parition before him with widely dilated 
eyes, then without a word his cheeks grew 
ashy, and tottering from his seat, he 
plunged lifeless to the floor. 

As he fell, the great crown dropped 
from his head and Grey Sprite, moved by 
a sudden impulse that he could not help, 


194 GREY SPRITE, THE SILVER KNIGHT 

caught it as it fell, and straightening to his 
full height, placed it upon his own head. 

Instantly every Gnome in the room sank 
upon his knees, and from every throat 
rang out the cry, “Hail, King of the 
Gnomes!” 

He had unwittingly carried out a cus¬ 
tom as old as the Gnomes themselves, and 
had crowned himself their King. 

For a moment Grey Sprite stood as 
though thunder-struck. He had acted 
upon an sudden impulse with no idea 
whatever as to what would result from it, 
and as the possible meaning of the 
Gnomes’ act flashed through his mind, he 
turned an inquiring glance upon Old 
Councilor who was kneeling at his feet. 

The wise old Gnome realized the situa¬ 
tion, but there was no undoing it, and plac¬ 
ing Grey Sprite’s hand upon his forehead 
in token of submission, Old Councilor 
said, in a firm voice, “I am thy servant, 
faithful and devoted, and I pray, O Mas- 


THE WAR OF FAIRIES AND GNOMES 195 

ter, that you will deal more kindly with 
me than did he who lies dead there upon 
the floor.” Then reaching down, he drew 
the curiously carved signet ring from the 
nerveless hand, and slipped it upon Grey 
Sprite’s finger. 

“Loose your brothers,” the Fairy 
Leader called to his soldiers, “there is no 
more enmity between the Fairies and the 
Gnomes.” 

Immediately the rest of the Nobles 
crowded about him, and in the same man¬ 
ner, as did Old Councilor, pledged obe¬ 
dience to the new King while all the time 
the Soldiers of the Queen looked on in 
amazement. 

“Call hither the Leaders of your Army,” 
said Grey Sprite to Old Councilor, and 
turning to the Captain of his own Guards, 
he directed him to summon the Queen’s 
Generals. 

At his words, a look of consternation 
swept over the face of the Gnome. “The 


196 GREY SPRITE, THE SILVER KNIGHT 

Army,” he gasped, “left the Mountain a 
week ago to launch a great attack against 
the Fairies. It must by this time be well 
advanced into Fairy-Land,” and wringing 
his hands in despair, he looked anxiously 
into the face of his new King. 

Grey Sprite’s face turned as death-like 
as that of him who lay upon the floor at 
his feet. 

“How did they travel?” he asked in a 
hoarse whisper, and it seemed to the trem¬ 
bling Gnome as if the burning eyes must 
scorch him. 

“Upon a great flight of Bats, Your Ma¬ 
jesty,” he answered. 

At the words, a ray of hope filtered 
through upon the blackness of Grey 
Sprite’s despair. “In what time did they 
expect to make the journey?” he cried. 

“About ten days, Majesty,” returned the 
Noble. 

Like a flash, Grey Sprite turned to the 
Captain of his Guards, “You,” said he, 


THE WAR OF FAIRIES AND GNOMES 197 

“will take command here until further 
orders come from me.” And turning to 
Old Councilor, he cried, “Conduct me to 
the outer gate.” 

Twisting and turning through the de¬ 
vious passages of the Mountain, the pair 
hastened, and soon they passed under the 
rim of rock that the brook had cut from the 
wall of the Mountain and stood among 
the Fairies. 

A shout of amazement went up as the 
Soldiers crowded about him, but paying 
attention to none, Grey Sprite called 
loudly for the General whom he had left 
in charge. 

“I have taken the Mountain,” he cried, 
“The Gnome King is dead. Peace is de¬ 
clared. The Gnome Army passed us in 
the night, and are within three days’ flight 
of the Castle. Bring your forces back 
with all haste. I shall precede you,” and 
motioning to Humming-Bird, who had 
dashed up on hearing his voice, he di- 


198 GREY SPRITE, THE SILVER KNIGHT 

rected Old Councilor to mount upon his 
back. Then vaulting lightly up beside 
him, called to Humming-Bird, “Oh, 
speed, Faithful Friend!” 

Before the wondering circle had fairly 
sensed his words, he was but a vanishing 
speck in the distance. 

“How are we going to manage?” asked 
Humming-Bird. “I cannot keep up this 
pace very long with you both upon my 
back.” 

The day was well advanced, and Grey 
Sprite knew that soon the Night Hawks 
would be starting out from their resting- 
places, so he told Humming-Bird to watch 
out for them. 

Presently a flock of about a dozen was 
seen high in the air, and as they ap¬ 
proached them, two of their number 
plunged almost to the ground from their 
dizzy height, then as they turned to rise, 
a deep, booming sound filled all the air. 

“Night Hawks,” called Grey Sprite, 


THE WAR OF FAIRIES AND GNOMES 199 

and as they wheeled at his call and swung 
up on the wind towards him, he con¬ 
tinued, “on the Queen of the Fairies’ serv¬ 
ice, summon your whole flock.” 

Quickly the flock of Night Hawks 
swept up, and in a few words Grey Sprite 
told them of the Queen’s peril and the need 
of extreme haste. He and the Old Gnome 
seated themselves on the back of the first 
Hawk. 

“I think you had all better follow 
along,” said he, “and when the bearers be¬ 
gin to tire, we can change.” 

So away once more they darted ever 
towards the east, while the wistful eyes of 
Humming-Bird followed them until they 
faded away in the deepening twilight. 

The motion of the Hawks was very 
soothing, and its noiselessness gave them 
the impression that they were not making 
as rapid progress as before, but Night 
Hawk assured them that he was going as 
fast as he could. For hours they glided 


200 GREY SPRITE, THE SILVER KNIGHT 

through the night. All below them, as 
they looked down, was inky blackness, but 
overhead the friendly stars shone with 
their serene light. Long before mid¬ 
night, Grey Sprite realized that his bird 
was wearying, so telling him to stop, they 
changed to a fresh Hawk, and again were 
traveling at top speed. Once more be¬ 
fore the pink dawn began to tint the east¬ 
ern horizon, a change was made to a 
fresh mount, and when daylight finally 
burst upon the world, they realized that 
many, many leagues had been put behind 
them by these graceful birds. 

Presently as they swept along, Grey 
Sprite saw a huge, black bird with snowy 
head and tail soar leisurely up from the 
woods and start off in a long, spiral climb 
into the heavens. 

“Get him, Night Hawk,” said he, “there 
is our mount for this whole day.” When 
a little later they got within calling dis¬ 
tance, he cried, “Service of the Fairy 


THE WAR OF FAIRIES AND GNOMES 201 

Queen, Eagle. She is in dire need of 
help, and I want you to carry my friend 
and myself as fast and as far as you can 
this day.” 

With a graceful turn, the Eagle plunged 
like an arrow towards the earth far below, 
while Night Hawk, not to be outdone, ex¬ 
ecuted just as successful a dive, and 
brought up with a loud boom as he turned 
to avoid hitting the ground. 

The exchange was quickly made, and 
Grey Sprite gave a great sigh of satisfac¬ 
tion as he felt the powerful lift of the 
mighty wings driving them ahead at first 
ever upwards in long spirals and then with 
a sweep like the North Wind, the Eagle 
settled to his pace. 

As they swept along, Old Councilor 
told Grey Sprite about the kingdom he 
was to rule, describing the habits and cus¬ 
toms of the Gnomes. He spoke of the 
people themselves, of the Nobles, and how 
the Army was governed and maintained, 


202 GREY SPRITE, TH.E SILVER KNIGHT 

thus whiling away the terrible monotony 
of the day, and helping to divert his mind 
for a little while from the deadly worry 
that was gnawing into the heart of his 
courage. 

Far below them could be seen hills and 
woods that Grey Sprite recognized, and he 
knew that they were within the borders 
of Fairy-Land, but he also realized with a 
sinking heart that at least another day and 
night’s journey lay between him and the 
Castle. 

All day the great Eagle flew at top speed, 
but late in the afternoon, Grey Sprite felt 
with sudden dismay that the Bird was slow¬ 
ing down, and he could feel a vibration 
over the whole body as his mighty heart 
began to pound with the exertion. 

“This will never do, Eagle,” he cried, 
“Stop and rest. We must try to find some 
one to spell you. Have you any one to 
suggest?” 

The Eagle gratefully circled down and 


THE WAR OF FAIRIES AND GNOMES 203 

alighted on the top of a dead tree. After 
a few minutes he caught his breath enough 
to gasp, “The Old Grey Gander of the 
Wild Geese. He can take you the rest of 
the way without stopping; and no one can 
go faster.” 

“But where can we find him?” asked 
Grey Sprite anxiously. 

“Just as soon as I can get my wind,” said 
Eagle, “I will take you to him. I know 
where he has been resting these last two 
days.” 

Presently, flapping his broad wings, he 
flew across to where a little lake nestled 
among the hills, and there taking their 
ease floated the Wild Geese, with Old 
Gander standing upon a rock that showed 
above the water, his head tucked under his 
wing, fast asleep. As the great Eagle 
swept into view, one of the Geese gave a 
warning honk, and instantly all were 
watching alertly. 

Alighting upon the rock, Grey Sprite 


204 GREY SPRITE, THE SILVER KNIGHT 

told his errand and the deadly peril of the 
Queen, and Old Gander cried, “I guess I 
was resting up for this very trip. Climb 
upon my back, and I will have you there 
by to-morrow forenoon.” 

Thanking Eagle for his help, they 
quickly obeyed, and hung on for dear life, 
while Old Gander plowed his way up 
into the air. He rose steadily, although 
not in the same manner as did Eagle, until 
they were so high that the earth below 
looked like a strange planet. Then with 
his great neck held straight out before him, 
he forged ahead, and Grey Sprite moaned, 
“Oh, why didn’t I have him all the time!” 

Ever and again the Old Gander would 
sound his challenging trumpet call, and 
many, hearing it, would look up and won¬ 
der where he was going all alone, little 
guessing that he carried on his back the 
fate of the Fairy Queen and all her Court. 

As they settled themselves for the long 
trip, Grey Sprite became alarmed at the 


THE WAR OF FAIRIES AND GNOMES 205 

appearance of Old Councilor. Lack of 
sleep and food was telling heavily upon 
the aged Gnome, so he told him to burrow 
into the soft down that grew thickly upon 
Old Gander’s back and sleep, while he 
would keep watch and see that he did not 
fall off. 

Wearily the Old Gnome did as he was 
told, and Grey Sprite was left alone with 
his thoughts. 

Below, the shadows of evening began 
again to gather over the world, and soon 
all he could see was the shining stars, for 
there was no moon. He marveled at the 
wonderful staying power of the great bird. 
Never for a moment did the mighty wings 
falter in their beat, and the challenge of 
his call was as clear as when they started. 
Then he began to wonder at the strange 
fortune that had followed him ever since 
the loving, little Vine had woven her deli¬ 
cate embroidery over his scarred and 
blackened trunk, and his heart ached with 


206 GREY SPRITE, THE SILVER KNIGHT 

the great love it held for her. He longed 
for the moment when he should see her 
again. 

All at once he heard Old Gander grunt, 
“The Fairy Castle!” and rubbing his eyes, 
he realized that for hours he had been 
soundly sleeping and that Old Gander had 
kept his promise. 

Although the departure of the Army 
and all the gay officers made quite a differ¬ 
ence in the daily life of the Court, yet there 
was so much to do that time passed 
quickly. 

Woodbine took charge of the bandage 
and surgical dressing supplies and had a 
great corps of Fairy Girls winding and 
folding with feverish haste from morning 
to night. Each day a large supply of 
these was started towards the Front on the 
backs of the willing Crows. 


THE WAR OF FAIRIES AND GNOMES 207 

On the hill behind the Castle where the 
Pine-trees filled the air with their healing 
balm, a splendid Hospital was being 
erected, for none who knew anything of 
the fierceness of the Gnomes could doubt 
but that it would be sorely needed before 
the terrible campaign was ended. 

One thing worried Woodbine cease¬ 
lessly—the Ancient Jewel had in answer 
to a question assured them that Grey 
Sprite would return, but that he would not 
be the same; and although she trusted his 
love as she did her own life, yet the puzzle 
was always in her mind; what did it mean? 
Every afternoon she would leave her busy 
maidens and, stationing herself on the 
high turret of the Castle, watch for the 
messenger that Grey Sprite had promised 
to send to her each day, and her heart 
would quicken when suddenly she would 
spy the little speck far in the distance com¬ 
ing straight for the Castle. She would 


208 GREY SPRITE, THE SILVER KNIGHT 

run to her room to get the first glimpse of 
the news that her Hero was sending her 
from the Front. 

So the days sped along, and the Army 
had been gone about a week. According 
to their calculations, she knew it must be 
somewhere in the neighborhood of its des¬ 
tination, and began to look for news of a 
battle. 

Then in the middle of the night they 
were all awakened by a terrible shaking 
and rattling of windows and casements. 

“The Gnomes are coming to attack 
you!” wailed West Wind. “Awake! 
Awake!” 

To the Captain of the Guards, he told 
this story: “I was loitering along early 
this evening, back near the border line 
when suddenly a great flight of Bats burst 
upon me; their number seemed countless, 
and on every one was a Gnome armed to 
the teeth.” He figured they would arrive 
in about two days. 


THE WAR OF FAIRIES AND GNOMES 209 

There was no more sleep in the Castle 
that night. 

A hurried council was called, and ways 
and means for defense were discussed. 
Of water there was a-plenty, for a never- 
failing spring flowed from the fountain in 
the central courtyard. They had food 
enough to stand quite a siege, and they 
knew that Grey Sprite would hurry back 
to their rescue as soon as he should learn 
how they were caught. 

The great question, however, was could 
they hold out against the assaults that the 
Gnomes would make? Some there were 
who advised that they flee the Castle at 
once and not risk a siege, but the Fairy 
Queen would not listen to such a proposi¬ 
tion. 

“Here we are, and here we remain,” said 
she, “I will not run away for all the 
Gnomes in the World.” 

So as soon as daylight came, work was 
started on all the entrances to the Castle, 


2io GREY SPRITE, THE SILVER KNIGHT 

and all the doors leading out to the bat¬ 
tlement were closed by solid masonry. 
Only one small opening was left for en¬ 
trance, and that could be easily protected. 

When they awoke the second morning 
after the alarm had been given, they found 
the plain, as far as they could see, entirely 
occupied by a multitude of Gnomes busily 
engaged in throwing up defenses and 
building their camp. West Wind had 
spoken truly when he said they were as 
numerous “as the sands of the sea.” Every¬ 
where the air was full of flying Bats whom 
the Gnomes guided by bridles, for they 
could not see well in the sunlight. 

Their vigilance and numbers made it 
impossible to send out any more messen¬ 
gers, and the besieged could only hope 
that those who had been dispatched to Grey 
Sprite at the first alarm would get safely 
through to him. In the meantime, there 
was nothing to do but sit tight and let the 
forces of the Gnomes dash themselves 


THE WAR OF FAIRIES AND GNOMES 211 

against the solid walls of their fortress as 
much as they pleased. 

Presently there came a knocking at the 
door of the Castle, and a message was de¬ 
livered for the Queen. 

It contained a demand for instant and 
unconditional surrender and the return of 
the Ancient Jewel. If the demand was not 
complied with, the Castle would be taken 
by assault and no mercy shown the de¬ 
fenders. 

The Queen’s reply was a spirited refusal 
of all their terms and a demand that’they 
leave her territory immediately, threaten¬ 
ing that, unless they did so, she would 
destroy them all with her Army, and not a 
Gnome would live to see his home again. 

From the great precautions the enemy 
seemed to be taking with their defenses, 
the Queen felt quite sure that they had not 
yet discovered the truth about the absence 
of her forces, and she hoped to gain some 
time from their preparations. 


212 GREY SPRITE, THE SILVER KNIGHT 

Early in the afternoon the watchers saw 
a large company of Gnomes make a sud¬ 
den rush for the Castle, and when they had 
reached the foot of the walls they hastily 
erected rude sheds from timbers that they 
carried. Presently a multitude of soldiers 
carrying pick-axes and shovels ran across 
the open space and taking shelter under 
the sheds began to dig. With consterna¬ 
tion the Defenders realized that there was 
one way of reaching them that they had 
overlooked, that the Gnomes intended to 
undermine the walls and accomplish the 
ruin of the great fortress. 

A real panic reigned within, for there 
was no way to prevent this plan of their 
enemies from being successfully carried 
out, and the Queen began to regret that she 
had not listened to the timid ones and 
taken her Court to safety while there was 
yet time. 

It was too late now, however, and they 
could only wring their hands and listen to 


THE WAR OF FAIRIES AND GNOMES 213 

the incessant sound of the thousands of 
picks and shovels, as the Gnomes toiled at 
their accustomed labor. 

Through all the discussions, one daunt¬ 
less heart remained. “Grey Sprite will 
come,” Woodbine told the Queen over and 
over again, but her Mistress would only 
shake her head in despair as she thought 
of the impossibility of bringing back in 
time an Army great enough to cope suc¬ 
cessfully with the hordes about them. 

Thus passed the rest of that day, and the 
next morning another message from the 
Gnomes announced that unless by ten 
o’clock a flag of surrender was displayed 
from the Castle, it would be toppled to 
the ground and no mercy shown to any 
one. 

Upon hearing this terrible news, the 
whole Castle was filled with screams and 
weeping, and many of the more timid ones 
demanded that the Queen immediately do 
what the Gnomes ordered lest by holding 


214 GREY sprite, the silver knight 

out to the last minute the Queen’s subjects 
would make the Gnomes so angry that 
they would not keep their promises. 

Sending for Faithful Guardian, the 
Queen asked, “What does the Ancient 
Jewel tell you? Shall we yield now?” 
Shaking his head he said, “Trust no prom¬ 
ise of the Gnomes, but hold out to the last.” 

So sending the clamoring crowd away, 
the Queen repaired to the room where 
Woodbine, since early dawn, had been 
sitting, watching the western horizon. 

“Take heart, Your Majesty,” she be¬ 
sought her, “he will come, I know. Had 
it not been for that sure knowledge, I 
should have died of fright when a prisoner 
in the heart of the Gnome Mountain, and 
you know how he did not fail.” 

The Queen smiled sadly, and gave her¬ 
self up to gloomy fears. 

With her and the Ancient Jewel in their 
possession, the Gnomes would have con¬ 
trol of the World, and oh, the misery and 


THE WAR OF FAIRIES AND GNOMES 215 

devastation that she could foresee! Giv¬ 
ing way to despair, she wept bitterly. 

“There is something coming,” suddenly 
cried the watcher at the window. “It is 
coming very swiftly,” she continued, as a 
speck that her eager eye caught in the far 
west began to draw rapidly nearer. 

“Your Majesty, the time is nearly up. 
What are your commands?” the Captain 
of the Guards stood before her, his face so 
furrowed by anxiety and despair that she 
hardly recognized him. 

“Display the flag of surrender,” said she, 
covering her eyes with her hands. 

“Wait,” cried Woodbine, “just a mo¬ 
ment, till we see what this means.” For 
now she could make out Old Gander, as 
with clear trumpet calls he came hurtling 
through the air like an arrow from the 
bow. 

“Oh!” cried she, “it is a Wild Goose, 
and there is one on his back clad in the 
armor of Grey Sprite and sitting beside 


216 GREY SPRITE, THE SILVER KNIGHT 

him a Gnome,” and as her searching eye 
failed to see anything else appearing, “Oh, 
it is Grey Sprite! But he has come back 
to die with us.” And throwing herself 
face down upon the floor, she burst into 
a perfect abandon of grief. 

Suddenly the Captain who had taken her 
place at the window gave a great cry. 
“Come here and look!” and the tone of his 
voice even more than his words brought 
them to his side. 

Grey Sprite’s first thought as he sensed 
Old Gander’s words was, “It is still stand¬ 
ing,” and then a great wave of thankful¬ 
ness surged through him, as he saw the 
camp of the Gnomes, and knew from its 
appearance that the Queen and her people 
were still safe. 

Old Gander had received his directions, 
and setting his mighty wings, scaled down 
in a great half-circle to the plain below, 
scattering the Bats like flies when they 
strove to head him off and, as he alighted, 


THE WAR OF FAIRIES AND GNOMES 217 

Grey Sprite and Old Councilor sprang 
to the ground. 

And this was what the three watchers, 
holding their breath, saw as they looked 
from the window: 

One dressed in the armor of Grey 
Sprite and an old, grey Gnome standing 
beside him facing the General of their 
enemies with his staff drawn up behind 
him, while stretching out as far as the eye 
could see was the countless array of sol¬ 
diers ready for the assault when the walls 
should topple and fall. 

Upon the head of the one in armor was 
gleaming a golden crown, and pointing to 
it, the Old Gnome cried with a great voice, 
“The King is dead! Long live the 
King!” and then arose a mighty shout that 
shook even the sturdy walls of the palace. 

“Hail! King of the Gnomes!” 

Rushing up' and flinging themselves 
upon their knees, the eager officers 
pledged their allegiance to their new 


218 GREY SPRITE, THE SILVER KNIGHT 

King, while above them the three looked 
on in wonder. 

Next they saw the King hand something 
to one of the younger officers, who, listen¬ 
ing respectfully for a moment, hastened 
towards the Castle: 

“I bear a message that I must give in 
person to the Fairy Queen,” he cried, and 
presently standing in her presence, he 
placed in her hand the brilliant scarf that 
she had last seen upon the helmet of her 
Knight, and this is what she heard: 
“Grey Sprite, the King of the Gnomes, re¬ 
quests an audience of the Queen of the 
Fairies.” 

Never in all the history of the Court had 
it been assembled so quickly. The reac¬ 
tion from despair to happiness had been 
so sudden and complete, and the burning 
curiosity that was consuming all was so 
compelling that in a very short time the 
Master of Ceremonies again conducted 
our Hero to the throne of the Queen; only 



“The King is dead! Long live the King! ’’—Page 217 














THE WAR OF FAIRIES AND GNOMES 219 

this time he wore upon his head a won- 
drously carved crown of purest gold, and 
from its top gleamed the rays from a great 
emerald. Behind him came the Nobles 
of the Gnomes clad in golden armor 
gleaming with many jewels, and as he 
halted, the Master of Ceremonies cried in 
a voice that, try as he would, he could not 
keep steady, “Grey Sprite, King of the 
Gnomes!” 

Taking the hand of the King who knelt 
before her, the Queen, with a wonderful 
smile, motioned him to a seat on the throne 
beside her, and Woodbine, standing be¬ 
hind, knew at last the meaning of the 
prediction which .the Ancient Jewel had 
made, and with a sudden sinking of the 
heart as she gazed at the great, golden 
crown, wondered if the little Handmaid of 
the Queen would mean as much to the 
ruler of the Gnomes as she had to her lover, 
Grey Sprite, Knight of the Queen. 

Later in the day when opportunity of- 


220 GREY SPRITE, THE SILVER KNIGHT 

fered, and he could speak to her alone, 
Grey Sprite took the little Waiting Maid’s 
hands in both of his, and in a low voice, 
said, “Woodbine, must I go back and 
marry an ugly little Gnome Girl?” 

Looking up in sudden indignation, she 
saw the tender, quizzical look with which 
he was regarding her, and hiding her 
blushing face on his breast, murmured, 
“Perhaps you had better consult the An¬ 
cient Jewel.” 

Thus began and quickly ended the great 
war between the Gnomes and the Fairies. 

The next night the main body of 
Gnomes started back on its return to 
Gnome-Land, but the Leaders of the 
Army and all the Nobles remained to join 
the Fairies in a great festival. 

At the end, out on the level plain that 
surrounded the Castle, one beautiful after¬ 
noon, in the presence of the whole assem- 


THE WAR OF FAIRIES AND GNOMES 221 

blage, there was a grand wedding. And 
when it was over, the Queen had suffered 
a loss that could never be repaired, for the 
most devoted Handmaid whom ever a 
queen had, together with the bravest and 
most faithful Knight, had left her service, 
and were going to live in Gnome-Land. 
The loss was softened, however, by a pact 
that was made at the conclusion of the 
ceremony. First, it was settled that never 
again would there be enmity between the 
Fairies and the Gnomes, and second, that 
twice every year, the Ancient Jewel would 
go on a journey; in one direction, it would 
travel from the Castle of the Fairy Queen 
to the Mountain of the Gnomes, and the 
Fairy Queen with all her Court would go 
with it. There would be a long visit with 
her devoted friends, and then when the 
year was half gone, it would travel back 
from Gnome-Land, and Grey Sprite with 
Woodbine together with the Nobles would 
safely convey it to Fairy-Land, where once 


222 GREY SPRITE, THE SILVER KNIGHT 

more they would dance as of old. But 
through it all, Faithful Guardian would be 
its constant attendant. 

So our tale is ended. We have seen the 
far-reaching consequences which may 
follow even a humble, kindly deed, and we 
have verified the old proverb which says 
that “Bread cast upon the waters will re¬ 
turn after many days,” only in this case, it 
came back Wedding Cake. 


THE END 







































































































































































